“We’ve been in dialogue with her and will continue to be along with CA to give her all the support she needs. But I’m pleased she’s taking a break and it will be good for her in the long term I’m sure.”
At the same time,a single-minded focus on the next assignment has served Lanning well throughout. Without any international matches immediately ahead,some time for Lanning to think about the longer term,and the personal as well as professional,is well-earned.
“It’s probably not something I’ve given a lot of thought to,” Lanning said earlier this year. “Things can change very quickly,but I’m enjoying playing and leading this group.
“I don’t know how long I’ll play for – it could be two years,it could be five,it could be 10,but for me I’ve always tried to focus on what I know is coming up and more the short term than anything else.”
Last month,Lanning stepped aside from the captaincy of Victoria,handing the reins to the all-rounder Sophie Molineux after playing just 14 state games over the past six years.
“We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this time,” Cricket Australia’s head of performance Shawn Flegler said.
“She’s been an incredible contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade,achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team,and has been a brilliant role model for young kids.
“The welfare of our players is always our number one priority,and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.”
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