Captain Meg Lanning was on Friday included in the Australian women’s one-day squad to face Pakistan, ending an indefinite break of months and allaying fears that she had played her last international match.
The record-breaking 30-year-old announced she was stepping down from the sport in August after leading her all-winning team at the Commonwealth Games.
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She said at the time it was time for Australia and Lanning to “focus on herself” after a hectic string of successes which included a world Cup Victory.
It was not clear whether she would return, but national selector Sean Flegler said on Friday that Lanning was ready to “take everything” at home against Pakistan next month.
“We always hoped she would come back and play, and that’s a really great story,” he said.
“Obviously, she’s taken this time to work out what’s really important to her, what she needs to do to manage herself.
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“You know, it’s a tough gig being an Australian captain and she’s done it for a long time, so she’s really glad she’s fresh, happy and knows what she wants to do.”
Making her debut at the age of 18, Lanning’s skills broke records from the start, setting the record for most centuries in women’s One Day International cricket.
He has led the team since becoming Australia’s youngest ever captain at the age of 21.
Australia will face Pakistan in three ODIs in Brisbane and Sydney from January 16, with Alyssa Healy, who captained the side in Lanning’s absence, being ruled out of the series with a calf injury.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)