South Africa and Australia are all set to face each other in a three-match ODI series. The series is scheduled to start on February 3. The first match will be played at Adelaide Oval. on that match, an interesting thing is going to happen. Australia’s legendary woman cricketers, Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes will be honored with a celebratory lap of the historic ground.
Remarkable tribute and Lanning’s excellence:
Australian cricket legends Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes will receive a special tribute lap at the historic ground ahead of the upcoming match. Haynes retired from playing in 2022. She has taken on various roles, including TV commentator and Head of Sydney Sixers’ BBL and WBBL teams. On the other hand, Lanning stepped down from international cricket last year but remains active with Victoria in the WNCL, Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, and Delhi Capitals in the WPL.
Lanning is on fire in the current WNCL edition, boasting the highest average of 106. She has piled up an impressive 424 runs and seems set for more success in the upcoming matches. Lanning, known for her seven World Cup victories and a Commonwealth Games gold, aims to clinch the WNCL title with Victoria.
Lanning’s Words:
Meg Lanning mentioned lacking the energy to cope with the demands of performing at the international level and meeting the commitment required for representing a top-tier team like Australia. Instead, she finds joy in mentoring younger players within the Victorian setup and picks up the bat when her turn comes.
She said, “I’ve enjoyed just rocking up to play and not thinking too much about it. For as long as I can remember, every game I played had a lot of pressure and expectation, even when you’d go back to state cricket as an Australian player you feel the pressure to perform and make sure you’re using that time. I loved every moment of it, but I put everything into my career and got to the point where I didn’t have too much energy to give, and the commitment levels required to play within that Australian team are significant.”
Further, he added, “I guess I didn’t really have that anymore, so stepping away and having a bit more time to focus on other things has been nice. Now I can be a little bit more relaxed and focus on other players as well, and try and help them as much as I can which is what I’ve really enjoyed with the Victorian team. We’ve got quite a few young girls in there and it’s been nice to think about it from their perspective a little bit, and also talk about some of the experiences I’ve had. Then I can just go out there and bat when my turn comes.”
Lanning acknowledged Haynes, her former vice-captain in the national team, for her achievements as a captain. She said, “She was a very integral part of our team for a long time and certainly helped me a lot. I wouldn’t have been the leader, or as successful as I was, without her there with me, filling the gaps that I missed. She’s a special part of my career on and off the field, so to be able to celebrate with her on the weekend is something I’m really looking forward to.”
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