Australia captain Meg Lanning has been dominated out of the ladies’s Ashes on account of medical points in a significant blow for the group’s defence of the urn.
Lanning solely returned to cricket in January following a four-month psychological well being break, however led Australia to the ladies’s Twenty20 World Cup triumph in February.
The 31-year-old performed within the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India, however can be unavailable for the UK tour.
Lanning was withdrawn from the squad on the recommendation of medical workers, in line with Cricket Australia girls’s cricket efficiency boss Shawn Flegler.
“It’s an unfortunate setback for Meg and she’s obviously disappointed to have been ruled out of the Ashes; it’s a significant series for the team and she’ll be missed, but she understands the need to put her health first,” Flegler stated.
“Meg will remain at home where she will continue to work with medical staff with the aim to return to playing as soon as possible.
“We ask that Meg’s privacy is respected at this time.”
One of the all-time greats of girls’s cricket, Lanning has scored 17 worldwide centuries and led Australia on an unbelievable run of success.
She has been on two profitable ODI World Cup squads (2013 and 2022) and 5 profitable World T20 squads 2012, ‘14, ‘18, ‘20 and ‘23).
During her break from the game last year, the star batter spoke of needing to speak to others and spent time overseas.
Dashing wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy will step up to captain Australia in the Ashes, with allrounder Tahlia McGrath to be vice-captain.
Lanning will not be replaced in the squad due to the Australia A tour in the UK, with players readily available to come in for the Ashes if needed.
The one-off women’s Test will get underway in Nottingham on June 22, with three T20s and three ODIs to comply with within the multi-format sequence.
Australia have retained the Ashes over the past 4 sequence, with Lanning’s group failing to lose a sport over the past contest in 2021-22.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
