Meg Lanning Unveils the Struggles Behind Her Unexpected Retirement
Former Australian cricket captain, Meg Lanning, has opened up about the personal battles she faced during her international career, which eventually led to her unexpected retirement last year.
Lanning’s retirement from international cricket in November last year took the cricket world by surprise. At 31, she was still at the peak of her career, regarded as one of the world’s best batters and one of the most diligent captains in the sport.
The Australian legend, who boasts an impressive record of five ICC Women’s T20 World Cup titles and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophies, six of which were won under her captaincy, discussed some of her career challenges on the Australian podcast Howie Games.
Lanning confessed that she used exercise as a coping mechanism for her struggles, but acknowledged that she was not supplying her body with enough nutrition to balance the increased physical activity.
“I was over-exercising and under-fuelling. I got to the point where I was doing about 85-90km a week. I was in denial. It became a bit of ‘I am going to show you’ sort of thing,” Lanning shared.
“It sort of just spiralled. I was not in a place to be able to go on tour and play cricket and give the commitment levels required for that (2023) Ashes series mentally and physically.
“I am naturally fine spending time with myself but there were very few people who I would want to engage with. I would get really snappy – real moody – if anyone asked anything. I got down to 57kg from 64kg. It wasn’t ridiculous (but it was) significant. The ratios were out of whack. I did not realise (it affected) my ability to concentrate. I didn’t really want to see other people. I disengaged a lot from friends and family.
“It (running) became a bit of an obsession. I could escape mentally. I would throw the headphones in but would not take my phone with me. I would have my Apple watch with me and listen to music. Nobody could contact me.”
A tribute to the brilliant career of Australia skipper Meg Lanning which included lifting more ICC World Cup trophies than any other captain in the history of the game.
Lanning believes her teammates would have easily noticed a change in her behaviour, not only in her physical appearance, but also in her interactions with them.
“I think they knew something was up,” Lanning admitted.
“I couldn’t see anything in my appearance but (others) could see it. And everything that comes with it. You become grumpy. Not talking to many people. Not being able to concentrate. Not sleeping. Your head just goes round and round and it’s not a nice place to be.
“I dreaded night-time because I knew I would go to bed and not be able to sleep. That would make me so mad. I would just get more angry with myself. If you can’t sleep you can’t do anything.
“I’ve learnt that regardless of who you are there is always something happening. I guess I have realised how much telling to people and letting them know can actually help even if they don’t have an answer.”