Cricket legend Meg Lanning has shed light on the unseen struggles that led to her surprise retirement from international cricket at the young age of 31. In a recent interview on The Howie Games podcast, Lanning revealed a battle with an unhealthy relationship with exercise and food, impacting her mental well-being.
“It just spiraled,” Lanning confessed, admitting she was initially in denial despite concerns from those around her. “I wasn’t in a good space to be on tour or give my all for the Ashes, mentally or physically,” she said.
Lanning disclosed a rapid weight loss, highlighting its toll on her health. “I dropped to 57 kgs from 64 kgs. It messed with my concentration and everything felt off-balance,” she explained. She found solace in running, a coping mechanism that ultimately turned into an unhealthy obsession.
“I’d run for hours, just to escape,” Lanning admitted, describing her struggle with sleep. These internal battles eventually led to the realization that a change was necessary.
Lanning’s journey included a six-month break following the 2022 Commonwealth Games, during which she even worked at a coffee shop. Though she returned to lead Australia to a T20 World Cup victory in February 2023, the underlying issues ultimately led to her retirement later that year.
Looking to the future, Lanning expressed a desire to remain involved in sports, possibly by owning a coffee shop – a testament to her passion beyond the cricket pitch.
“I love sport, so the sport will be involved in the next step. I love coffee, I do have this one vision of maybe one day owning my coffee shop.”
Lanning’s retirement at the age of 31 came as a surprise to many, considering her illustrious career that saw her lift the T20 World Cup five times and the 50-overs edition twice.
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