Ellyse Perry said you could “without a doubt” feel Meg Lanning’s presence back on the field as the women’s national captain made her return to professional cricket on Thursday after a five-month hiatus.
Lanning took to the field for Victoria at Junction Oval in the Women’s National Cricket League against New South Wales after stepping away in August last year citing personal reasons.
Meg Lanning back on the field for Victoria on Thursday.Credit:Getty Images
The decision came after Lanning led Australia to gold in the Commonwealth Games in August and a win in the ODI World Cup last year.
“Meg’s one of the best players in the world … that we’ve ever seen. So, whenever you add someone like that back into your side, it’s great,” Perry said after Victoria’s 88-run win over NSW.
“But I think most importantly, we’re just all pumped that she’s keen to be back around playing. [She] just seems really happy and, you know, it’s just nice to see Meg in the cricket world again.”
Back at the crease: Meg Lanning.Credit:Getty Images
Perry added that in the grand scheme of Lanning’s career, five months out isn’t a long period.
“I don’t think she’s really lost anything. We all got to get used to playing matches again, that takes a little bit, but besides that, she’s the same Meg,” Perry said.
Victoria scored a dominant 4-321, the highest WNCL total ever scored against NSW, while both Perry and Nicole Faltum finished the day with career-best performances.
Perry struck her highest List A score and hit 23 boundaries in a 125-ball 147 before being run out in the 46th over. Faltum, who took captaincy duties following Sophie Molineux’s knee injury in November, made her maiden century.
Lanning had a rusty start but showed promising signs in her return. She opened the batting with Sophie Reid and made 29 runs from 33 deliveries.
A great piece of fielding saw Reid run out for a duck on the second ball, before Perry joined Lanning and settled things for Victoria. Lanning then fell to a brilliant catch from Anika Learoyd at mid-wicket off Lauren Smith’s bowling.
Ellyse Perry marks her century.Credit:Getty Images
Lanning’s return to professional cricket was announced in late December when she was named as captain of the Australian squad set to take on Pakistan later this month.
She will play two matches for Victoria, facing NSW again on Saturday, before leading the ODI side in a three-match series from January 16.
Lanning declared on social media she was “refreshed and ready” to come back to the game she loved after taking time to travel and refresh.
“I can’t wait to be out on the field again against Pakistan. Sometimes you just have to hit pause, step back and take a breather. That’s certainly what I needed,” she posted on Instagram.
“The past six months have taught me a lot. I’ve learnt so much about myself and who and what is important to me. I’ve always played my cards pretty close to my chest. This experience has given me a greater appreciation of how opening up and talking to the people that care about you really can make the tough times feel easier.”
Australian cricket legend Belinda Clark praised Lanning’s decision to take a break.
“Ash Barty did something similar when things got to the point where it’s best you step away. Then you can come back refreshed and I think Meg has got some great cricket in front of her,” Clark said on Thursday morning at the unveiling of her statue at the SCG.
“Cricket is a game that requires you to be switched on the whole time. I think you’ll see some great Meg Lanning highlights in the next couple of years.”
Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham’s also returned on Thursday after a long hiatus from an ACL injury suffered in the WBBL in October 2021.
With Tom Decent
