MEG UP WITH OUR FINEST LEADERS
NO CAPTAIN in the history of cricket has lifted more World Cup trophies than Meg Lanning, who has been hailed as “one of the greatest leaders not just in cricket but in sport” in the wake of Australia’s epic sixth T20 World Cup triumph.
Central to one of the most successful national teams in world sport, Lanning has been at the helm for five World Cup wins, including two in the past 12 months, which is more than any other man or woman.
In the past year, Lanning has lifted two World Cup trophies, collected the first Commonwealth Games gold medal and taken six months off via a self-imposed break, which some thought could have been the end of her glorious career.
But the 30-year-old, who has been leading Australia for almost a decade, returned and thrived and now assumes her own place in cricket history, surpassing Ricky Ponting for most Cup wins as captain.
“When Meg retires, hopefully not for a few more years … I think she’ll go down as one of the greatest leaders not just in cricket but in sport and just generally as well,” star opener and player of the match in the win over South Africa, Beth Mooney, said.
“So absolutely she’ll go down as one of the greatest ever for our team.”
Veteran seamer Megan Schutt said Lanning’s pre-game rev-up in Cape Town typified what the occasion meant to the captain and her ability to capture that for her team.
“I think because she’s a pretty calm character kind of rubs off on us,” Schutt said.
“She presents this calmness. I mean, her chat before this game was cool because it was a bit more ampie, a few swear words in there – Meg doesn‘t swear a lot! – so that was really cool.”