Meg Lanning Ready to Lead Melbourne Stars in WBBL 12
Melbourne Stars have handed the captaincy to former Australia skipper Meg Lanning for the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 12. She replaces Annabel Sutherland, who led the side for two years before stepping aside.
Lanning previously captained the franchise in 2023 and will now guide the team alongside a new coaching group. Her brief is to help the Stars improve on the field. Sutherland, meanwhile, will remain an important voice within the leadership group.
The change was reached after discussions focused on getting the best performances from the squad. Sutherland's workload as an international all-rounder was also taken into consideration.
Lanning spoke about her return to the role with a sense of readiness. “A few years back, when I gave up the captaincy and Annabel took it on, I hadn't thought about captaining again,” she said. “This year, though, when we discussed how to bring the best out of every player, it was decided that I should step back into it. I'm happy to do that. Whatever helps the team win and play its best, I'm ready for it.”
She also praised Sutherland's ongoing role. “Annabel is going to have a very big part in the leadership group. I hope it makes things a little easier for her, so she can go out and play her best cricket.”
A five-time World Cup winner, Lanning will work with coach Richard Pyrah, who has joined the Stars for two seasons after his stint with Yorkshire. She feels his presence has given the team a clear identity and direction.
Pyrah arrived just before the Spring Challenge, following some phone conversations, and Lanning says spending time with him during that event proved very useful. “It helped the coaching staff and the players understand each other,” she said. “We found out how he works and what he expects from us, and he got to know the team as well. It was a really good tournament for us. We feel we improved throughout, and some very clear roles have come out of it. He has done excellent work so far. He has given us a clear picture of how we want to play, and how we need to behave on and off the field.”
Melbourne Stars are also hoping to build on the progress of young all-rounder Reece McKenna, who scored a half-century in the T20 Spring Challenge. She is expected to keep opening the batting with Lanning.
“We're probably moving in that direction,” Lanning said. “Reece gave us strong signals last year. She's a young player with excellent skills and talent. It's about giving her the confidence to go out and play her natural game. We simply want to use every player's abilities to the full.”
The middle order includes Annabel Sutherland, Danielle Gibson and Amy Jones. The Stars will be without star quick Marizanne Kapp, but the franchise trusts its available seamers to bring the necessary variety across an innings. Australian international Kim Garth and Sutherland are likely to carry major responsibility.
“We have a lot of variety in this group,” Lanning said. “Kim Garth can bowl with the new ball, and on her good days she is nearly impossible to play. Having her and Annabel in the team is very beneficial. Annabel keeps getting better and can bowl at any point in the innings.”
She added, “Annabel understands her game much better now, which is a really good thing. We feel we have plenty of options and variety to use throughout the innings, which is very important. We play on quite good pitches, so you need a few different bowling options.”
The arrival of England's Charlie Dean strengthens the Stars' spin department further, joining Sophie Day and Massy Gibson. Lanning believes Dean's experience and composure will prove extremely valuable in the shortest format of the game.
On Dean, Lanning said, “Charlie offers us a lot across several areas, and she has plenty of experience. She has also captained England, which means her mind stays very calm. Even under pressure she remains composed, and that matters a lot in T20 cricket. Her bowling can be used at any stage, and she can bowl difficult overs. In the surge phase you need players who can adapt to different situations, and she contributes significantly with both bat and ball and in the field.”