Inspirational Aussie skipper suddenly retires

Australian women's cricket captain Meg Lanning has announced her immediate retirement from the international game at the age of 31.

The seven-time World Cup winner and three-time Belinda Clark medallist amassed 8352 runs from 241 international matches.

She also won the Ashes three times with Australia – in 2015, 2019, and 2022.

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"The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me," Lanning said on Thursday.

"I've been incredibly fortunate to enjoy a 13-year international career, but I know now is the right time for me to move on to something new.

"Team success is why you play the game, I'm proud of what I have been able to achieve and will cherish the moments shared with teammates along the way."

Lanning made her international debut in December 2010 and went on to score 17 centuries in the famous strip.

That included becoming the youngest Australian to score a ton when she hit 104 not out against England at the WACA aged 18 years and 288 days.

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She was only 21 years old when first handed the international captaincy.

She captained the team 182 times, and holds the record for most T20 internationals captained in women's cricket (100).

The Australian team won 80 per cent of matches under her leadership.

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Lanning boasted an ODI average of 53.51 with 15 tons – the most ever in women's cricket – and an T20I average of 36.61, including a top score of 133 not out.

Her last international game was the T20 World Cup final in February this year, in which Australia beat South Africa by 19 runs.

In March 2020 Lanning was at the centre of history when she hoisted the World Cup trophy in front of 86,174 fans at the MCG, in her home city of Melbourne.

Lanning will continue to play cricket at domestic level.