Returning Lanning coy on availability for India tour
Meg Lanning is feeling confident ahead of her WBBL return but has refused to commit to being available for Australia's tour of India in December
AAP
17-Oct-2023
Meg Lanning scored 51 on her return to cricket in the WNCL • Getty Images
Australia captain Meg Lanning is confident she has more good cricket in her but has refused to be drawn on her availability for the upcoming tour of India.
After missing the Ashes in England earlier this year over health concerns, Lanning is back in action ahead of the Melbourne Stars' WBBL campaign. The 31-year-old declined to elaborate on her second extended break from the game during the last two years.
Lanning missed Australia's recent home series against West Indies but could head to India for a historic day-night Test in Mumbai in December.
"I haven't thought that far ahead [about India]," Lanning said on Tuesday in her first media appearance for more than six months.
"I'm back playing some cricket, which is nice.
"I'm really enjoying it, and I still feel like I have a little bit more to give, but what exactly that looks like, I'm not sure."
As for returning to captain Australia, Lanning said she had not "really got that far".
"I'm just worrying about this next couple of weeks with the Stars," she said.
Lanning admitted she barely watched any of the Ashes as Alyssa Healy captained Australia as they retained the urn in England courtesy of a drawn series.
She put the bat away after finishing the inaugural Women's Premier League with the Delhi Capitals in March.
"I didn't bat for a fairly long time," Lanning said.
"Probably I needed a little bit heading into the WNCL.
"But I have played a lot of cricket over the years so I do feel like the skillset's there.
"It's just about getting into a confident position and feeling good in my mind that I can go out there and play. I feel like I'm in that position now."
Lanning initially took a break from cricket last year following Australia's gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, returning for the home series against Pakistan in January.
She led Australia to a Twenty20 World Cup title in South Africa in February, before again taking leave on the eve of the Ashes on medical grounds.
Lanning's Stars will open the WBBL season with a match against the Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval on Thursday night.