Latest news with #MegLanning
ABC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Meg Lanning and Grace Harris belt sixes in London showdown to open The Hundred at Lord's
The fifth season of England's Hundred competition has been launched with a blizzard of sixes, mostly hit by Australians Grace Harris and Meg Lanning. Harris hit a competition-record-equalling six sixes in her 42-ball 89 not out, but was nearly upstaged by former Australian captain Lanning, who hit five of them before being dismissed for 85 off 51 balls. Her departure sealed London Spirit's victory over capital rivals Oval Invincibles by 17 runs. The match was the first half of a double-header at Lords to kick off the competition, in which both sides receive 100 balls bowled in "sets" of five. The men's game followed, with David Warner's Spirit thumped after Warner scored just nine as his team was bowled out for 80 and the Invincibles reached the target just four wickets down. It was a stunning opening to the women's tournament, with a competition record 15 sixes in all. Harris led the defending champions to 5-176, the second highest score in the competition's history. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ The Queenslander was brutal on former Australia teammate Amanda Jade-Wellington, who went for 38 off her 15 balls — but she did have Harris dropped on 22. The other Australians in Spirit's team fared less well. Georgia Redmayne, opening the innings, struggled to a six-ball duck. Charli Knott, recruited late to replace the unavailable Indian star Deepti Sharma, made one off four. Harris put on 100 with Englishwoman Cordelia Griffith (50 off 29), a team record, in 52 balls. "I loved it out there. When you have a wicket like this, you want to cash in as a batter," Harris said. On the secret to her clean hitting she suggested "genetics maybe?" before focusing on good preparation, technique and an unconventional diet for an athlete. "Three gym sessions a week. Your hand speed as well. Your feet don't have to move well but a still base and you can time balls for six with your hands," she said. "A few burgers in there. I have been living on dumplings since I have been over in England and it seems to be working. No Harris is a small human being, so I will take it." Lanning said her former national teammate, who famously once cleared the rope in the WBBL with a broken bat, "makes it look easy". "Fair play to her, she was too good," Lanning said. "They set a great total and we were a bit behind. I couldn't get going early on. Once I found some tempo, I had some momentum going." True enough, prior to being out, Lanning went 6, 4, 4, 6 and looked about to mastermind a heist over the team she played for last season. There are 16 Australians in the women's competition in all, with only one of the eight sides without an Australian. This is the last season solely under the control of the England and Wales Cricket Board, with large chunks of most teams sold to private owners, half of them Indian Premier League clubs. This has raised $1 billion for the sport in England, though that has not quelled criticism from traditionalists who fear it threatens the county structure and annexes the key summer month of August. But, besides the cash, The Hundred has succeeded in its aim of attracting a new audience. This midweek afternoon women's match drew 15,640 to Lord's. Australian officials, pondering the future of the Big Bash League, will have taken note. AAP
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie women launch England's Hundred in brutal fashion
The fifth season of England's Hundred competition has been launched with a blizzard of sixes, mostly hit by Australians Grace Harris and Meg Lanning. Harris hit a competition record-equalling six sixes in her 42-ball 89 not out, but was nearly upstaged by her former Australian captain Lanning, who hit five of them before being dismissed for 85 off 51 balls. Her departure sealed London Spirit's victory over capital rivals Oval Invincibles by 17 runs. The match was the first half of a double-header at Lords to kick-off the controversial competition, in which both sides receive 100 balls bowled in 'sets' of five, with the men, including Spirit's David Warner, following. You've been treated at Lord's Cricket Ground to a Grace Harris show! 🍿#TheHundred — The Hundred (@thehundred) August 5, 2025 It was a stunning opening with a competition record 15 sixes in all. Harris led the defending champions to 5-176, the second highest score in the competition's history. The Queenslander was brutal on former Australia teammate Amanda Jade-Wellington, who went for 38 off her 15 balls - but she did have Harris dropped on 22. The other Australians in Spirit's team fared less well. Georgia Redmayne, opening the innings, struggled to a six-ball duck. Charli Knott, recruited late to replace the unavailable Indian star Deepti Sharma, made one off four. Harris put on 100 with Englishwoman Cordelia Griffith (50 off 29), a team record, in 52 balls. "I loved it out there," she said. "When you have a wicket like this, you want to cash in as a batter." On the secret to her clean hitting she suggested "genetics maybe?" before focussing on good prep, technique and an unconventional diet for an athlete. "Three gym sessions a week. Your handspeed as well. Your feet don't have to move well but a still base and you can time balls for six with your hands. "A few burgers in there. I have been living on dumplings since I have been over in England and it seems to be working! No Harris is a small human being, so I will take it."📹 Treat yourself to a Meg Lanning 6️⃣!#TheHundred — The Hundred (@thehundred) August 5, 2025 "She is very powerful and makes it look easy," said Lanning of Harris. "Fair play to her, she was too good. "They set a great total and we were a bit behind. I couldn't get going early on. Once I found some tempo, I had some momentum going." True enough, prior to being out Lanning went 6,4,4,6 and looked about to mastermind a heist over the team she played for last season. There are 16 Australians in the women's competition in all, with all but one of the eight sides having an Aussie. This is the last season solely under the control of the England and Wales Cricket Board with large chunks of most teams sold to private owners, half of them Indian Premier League clubs. This has raised $A1 billion for the sport in England, though that hasn't quelled criticism from traditionalists who fear it threatens the county structure and annexes the key summer month of August. However, besides the cash The Hundred has succeeded in its aim of attracting a new audience - this midweek afternoon women's match drew 15,640 to Lord's. Australian officials, pondering the future of the Big Bash League, will have taken note. AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN THE HUNDRED Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne, Charli Knott (London Spirit), Beth Mooney (Manchester Originals), Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham (Northern Superchargers), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Meg Lanning (Oval Invincibles), Ash Gardner, Alana King, Heather Graham (Trent Rockets), Jess Jonassen (Welsh Fire).
Int'l Cricket Council
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Australia remain on top while Thailand climb up in the annual T20I rankings update
Australia and New Zealand have been the big winners on the ICC Women's T20I team rankings following the annual update made by the ICC on Friday. The Aussies maintained their stronghold on the No.1 ranking with 299 rating points and even extended their lead over second-placed England (279) from 18 points to 20 after the update. Women's T20I Team Rankings WATCH: Australia lift the 2023 T20 World Cup trophy The moment Australia lifted the T20 World Cup for the sixth time | Women's T20WC 2023 Australian captain Meg Lanning and her team celebrated in style as they lifted the trophy at Newlands in Cape Town after beating South Africa in the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. While there are no positional changes among the top-eight ranks, reigning ICC Women's T20 World Cup winners New Zealand were rewarded with a two-point increase to 253 rating points and are now within seven points of third-placed India (260). South Africa (243), West Indies (240), Sri Lanka (228) and Pakistan (220) round out the top eight teams on the rankings. Ireland move up one place and past Bangladesh into ninth following the update that provides weightings at 50 percent for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 percent for matches thereafter. WATCH: New Zealand win 2024 T20 World Cup crown MUST WATCH | New Zealand's Epic Relived – The pure drama of a historic night | WT20WC 2024 New Zealand players recall a historic night | WT20WC 2024 Asian side Thailand climb two places to move to 11th overall, while Sierra Leone (34th) and Kuwait (37th) are other big improvers as they gain seven rating points and move up three spots overall apiece. Four teams – Mexico, Czechia, Oman and Ghana – drop out of the rankings due to not having played at least eight T20Is since May 2022. Meanwhile, UAE have taken the place of USA among the 16 teams granted ODI status for the 2025-29 cycle, which will come into effect on 12 May. WATCH: Netherlands stun South Africa in World Cup shock | Match Highlights | CWC23 Netherlands stun South Africa in World Cup shock | Match Highlights | CWC23 Match highlights as Netherlands opened their account in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with a stunning upset victory over South Africa in Dharamsala. The list of teams with ODI status now features five Associate Members, with Thailand, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands retaining their status, and the UAE joining them following strong performances in T20Is. Thailand and Scotland secured their ODI status through qualification for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025, while PNG and the Netherlands retained theirs based on their T20I rankings. The UAE earned ODI status as the next highest-ranked Associate Member at the time of the annual ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings update. Teams with ODI status are required to play at least eight ODIs over a three-to-four-year period to achieve or maintain a ranking.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Cricket constantly on my mind... dream is to play in a World Cup, rising star Shree Charani says after making India debut
It's not easy for a young up-and-comer to make an impression in a team stacked with superstars. But N. Shree Charani did just that in the recently concluded iteration of the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she represented runner-up Delhi Capitals. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner featured in crucial games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians (final), leaving a lasting impression on teammates, including skipper Meg Lanning, and those watching from the stands and on TV. With selectors keeping an eye on her domestic performances, where she proved handy with the bat too, Charani unsurprisingly earned a maiden India call-up for the Tri-Nation series involving India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in the island nation. In her debut game against the host, she finished with two wickets, conceding just 26 runs in eight overs. In an interview with Sportstar, the Kadapa native looked back at her maiden WPL stint, her call-up to the senior national team, how COVID-19 pandemic shaped her budding career, and more. Excerpts: What was your initial reaction to getting the India call-up? I was very proud of it. Playing with Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur), Smriti (Mandhana) di, Jemi di (Jemimah Rodrigues), they are such legends of the game, and to be playing with them is a pleasure. I knew that they would see my performances in the WPL. I had the hope that if I performed in the multi-day Challenger (in Dehradun), I might have a chance. When I played in that tournament, after my first match, I felt there was a chance of getting the call-up. I got a six-wicket haul, and felt like I bowled well in that match. I thought if I kept performing like this in the next few games, then I stood a chance. Was the call-up that came for the Tri-Series validating, given all your efforts to come through the ranks? When I officially got the news, there was a Challenger match going on. I was in the dressing room. Harleen (Deol) di and Yasthika (Bhatia) di entered, gave me the news, and congratulated me. Actually, we sort of knew beforehand about the news because they asked us for our jersey [name, number, and size] the previous night, and I had shared it with my parents. I told them that there was a chance [of getting a call-up]. I was actually a little nervous then, wondering what would happen, and I was a little tense till I got the confirmation. I spoke with my parents six hours after I got the official news. My mother and my uncle were very excited. Everyone was excited, honestly, but they both were a little extra happy. Were you always into cricket, or did you try your hand at other sports in your younger days? My father first enrolled me in badminton when I was in class six. I used to play, come home, and then move to playing cricket. He then made me sign up for an academy in Proddatur and even complained to the coaches there that I would return home after coaching and start playing cricket without taking any rest. I played Kho Kho in school too. Usually, I would come home and then head to play Kho Kho by 5:30 PM. I used to go early, play cricket, and then go for Kho Kho. Cricket was constantly on my mind. Even when I was going for athletics, I used to ask my father about joining a cricket academy. When I was in Class 10, he finally agreed to let me switch to cricket full time. How did COVID-19 affect your game? COVID-19 helped me a lot, actually. There was a mud ground near my house. I used to work on both batting and bowling there, alongside my brothers and friends. I played a lot and had no fear of playing the game even before I started training professionally. I then went to an academy in Hyderabad for training. That's where my name was submitted for the State U-19 probables list. That's how everything fell into place for me. Tell us your first impressions of life with Delhi Capitals in the WPL. When I first joined the DC camp, I did not have any idea of how things would be. The team gave me a lot of comfort; it was a fantastic group. I am normally a very calm person. Jemi di used to come and speak with me a lot, she would give me the same amount of comfort that Aru (statemate Arundhati Reddy) akka used to give. That helped me settle down quickly. Charani of Delhi Capitals in action during the final match of the Women's Premier League 2025. | Photo Credit: SPORTZPICS FOR WPL Who among the squad ended up becoming your close friends during your time with the franchise? Aru akka and Jemi di took care of me very well. Whatever was there or whatever I needed, I could ask them very freely. There is no language barrier between Aru akka, so I would ask her if I had any doubts. I was very comfortable with Aru akka and Sneha (Deepthi) akka because we all speak the same language, as well as Jemi di and Lisa (Keightley) ma'am. Even after the WPL final, Jemi di came and told me, 'While your analysis may be different, please know that you bowled very well.' How did the WPL playing experience help and change you, if at all? As a person, I have not changed much, but as a professional, my routines have changed. Take food consumption, for example. I keep an eye on the amount of protein, fiber, and vitamins I consume. I have been very inspired after seeing everyone in the WPL, in the DC team, and beyond – their routines, their discipline, and more. I understood why all those players have achieved as much as they have, and the amount of work that went into achieving it. Videos of your camaraderie with DC assistant coach Lisa Keightley were quite popular during the league. What has your association with her been like? Lisa ma'am (DC assistant coach) is very experienced. She was very helpful. I got feedback on what I can do, what to improve in my bowling, and a lot more. She was the reason why I got some structure and clarity in my game. We had Jess (Jonassen) at DC who is a very experienced left-arm spinner and one of the world's best. What Lisa ma'am used to do was speak with her and also with Meg (Lanning), and ask them 'What's going on with Shree? What can she do today to improve?' and get information. That used to be very helpful to me; it would give me a clear plan on what I could and should be doing. Lisa ma'am is the reason why my bowling got a lot more clarity. She used to help me a lot, not just in cricket but in all things; she would give me a lot of guidance. She is a very funny person also, and she can handle anything with a smile. She doesn't take anything to heart, she is a very genuine person. How was your relationship with your captain Lanning? My relationship with Meg was good. She also used to guide me a lot. She would tell me how and where to bowl, what kind of fields to set, how to bowl to a particular field, and more. In the match, she would talk to me before every ball and remind me of the plan we discussed. I learned how to be calm from her, irrespective of the situation. When I was getting smashed for sixes in the WPL final, if Meg wasn't around, I would have been more nervous. She and the whole team were constantly cheering me on, telling me when I was doing well. That final was disappointing for the DC faithful. How do you look back at that match? When I look back, I feel bad about it. I think I could have performed slightly better, maybe. I felt that right after the match and even now, when I think about it. How did your family and friends react to your WPL stint? All of my friends and family watched my WPL matches. I got a lot of messages after the two matches I played in WPL. It took me two days to reply to all those messages. Those messages gave me a lot of confidence in my performance during the league. There was a lot of praise for your fielding in the WPL. How do you go about working on improving that aspect of your game? I was a much better fielder, but I am not that good right now. I need to work on that, since I am just making my way back from a few niggles. It will take about six months for me to get back to my old self. It doesn't matter if I am in the playing XI. I would go and take catches daily, work with Milap (Mewada, the fielding coach at DC). If I wasn't playing in a match, I would finish bowling and stay with him and then take catches for about 20 minutes, which eventually helped me. Are you keeping an eye on the Women's World Cup in India later this year? Every player will want to take part in the World Cup, that's obvious. If I have to go there, I need to focus on the present. My dream is to play for India, and if possible, in a World Cup. But I am not going to think about that. I will keep working hard. Whatever has to happen will happen.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Shree Charani Interview: Cricket constantly on my mind... dream is to play in a World Cup
It's not easy for a young up-and-comer to make an impression in a team stacked with superstars. But N. Sree Charani did just that in the recently concluded iteration of the Women's Premier League, where she represented runner-up Delhi Capitals. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner featured in crucial games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians (final), leaving a lasting impression on teammates, including skipper Meg Lanning, and those watching from the stands and on TV. With selectors keeping an eye on her domestic performances, where she proved handy with the bat too, Charani unsurprisingly earned a maiden India call-up for the Tri-Nation series involving India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in the island nation. In her debut game against the host, she finished with two wickets, conceding just 26 runs in eight overs. In an interview with The Hindu, the Kadapa native looked back at her maiden WPL stint, her call-up to the senior National team, how COVID-19 pandemic shaped her budding career, and more. Excerpts ALSO READ | G. Kamalini - The accidental cricketer on the fast lane to stardom What was your initial reaction to getting the India call-up? I was very proud of it. Playing with Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur), Smriti (Mandhana) di, Jemi di (Jemimah Rodrigues), they are such legends of the game, and to be playing with them is a pleasure. I knew that they would see my performances in the WPL. I had the hope that if I performed in the Multi-day Challenger (in Dehradun), I might have a chance. When I played in that tournament, after my first match, I felt there was a chance of getting the call-up. I got a six-wicket haul, and felt like I bowled well in that match. I thought if I kept performing like this in the next few games, then I stood a chance. One Brings Two 👏 N. Charani gets her first and second #TATAWPL wickets in the same over 🙌#DC have pushed #RCB back to 131/5 after 18 overs. Updates ▶️ | @ — Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 1, 2025 Was the call-up that came for the Tri-Series validating, given all your efforts to come through the ranks? When I officially got the news, there was a Challenger match going on. I was in the dressing room. Harleen (Deol) di and Yasthika (Bhatia) di entered, gave me the news, and congratulated me. Actually, we sort of knew beforehand about the news because they asked us for our jersey [name, number, and size] the previous night, and I had shared it with my parents. I told them that there was a chance [of getting a call-up]. I was actually a little nervous then, wondering what would happen, and I was a little tense till I got the confirmation. I spoke with my parents six hours after I got the official news. My mother and my uncle were very excited. Everyone was excited, honestly, but they both were a little extra happy. Were you always into cricket, or did you try your hand at other sports in your younger days? My father first enrolled me in badminton when I was in class six. I used to play, come home, and then start move to playing cricket. He then made me sign up for an academy in Proddatur and even complained to the coaches there that I would return home after coaching and start playing cricket without taking any rest. I played Kho Kho in school too. Usually, I would come home and then head to play Kho Kho by 5:30pm. I used to go early, play cricket, and then go for Kho Kho. Cricket was constantly on my mind. Even when I was going for athletics, I used to ask my father about joining a cricket academy. When I was in Class 10, he finally agreed to let me switch to cricket full time. ALSO READ | T20 leagues will dominate world cricket: W.V. Raman How did COVID-19 affect your game? COVID-19 helped me a lot, actually. There was a mud ground near my house, I used to work on both batting and bowling there, alongside my brothers and friends. I played a lot and had no fear of playing the game even before I started training professionally. I then went to an academy in Hyderabad for training. That's where my name was submitted for the state U-19 probables list. That's how everything fell into place for me. ALSO READ | No coach can change a player over 4-6 weeks in franchise cricket: Pietersen Tell us your first impressions of life with the Delhi Capitals in the WPL. When I first joined the DC camp, I did not have any idea of how things would be. The team gave me a lot of comfort; it was a fantastic group. I am normally a very calm person. Jemi di used to come and speak with me a lot, she would give me the same amount of comfort that Aru (statemate Arundhati Reddy) akka used to give. That helped me settle down quickly. Who among the squad ended up becoming your close friends during your time with the franchise? Aru akka and Jemi di took care of me very well. Whatever was there or whatever I needed, I could ask them very freely. There is no language barrier between Aru akka, so I would ask her if I had any doubts. I was very comfortable with Aru akka and Sneha (Deepthi) akka because we all speak the same language, as well as Jemi di and Lisa (Keightley) ma'am. Even after the WPL final, Jemi di came and told me, 'While your analysis may be different, please know that you bowled very well.' How did the WPL playing experience help and change you, if at all? As a person, I have not changed much, but as a professional, my routines have changed. Take food consumption, for example. I keep an eye on the amount of protein, fiber, and vitamins I consume. I have been very inspired after seeing everyone in the WPL, in the DC team, and beyond – their routines, their discipline, and more. I understood why all those players have achieved as much as they have, and the amount of work that went into achieving it. ALSO READ | A flash of Dhoni and a peep both into the past and the future Videos of your camaraderie with DC assistant coach Lisa Keightley were quite popular during the league. What has your association with her been like? Lisa ma'am (DC assistant coach) is very experienced. She was very helpful. I got feedback on what I can do, what to improve in my bowling, and a lot more. She was the reason why I got some structure and clarity in my game. We had Jess (Jonassen) at DC who is a very experienced left-arm spinner and one of the world's best. What Lisa ma'am used to do was speak with her and also with Meg (Lanning), and ask them 'What's going on with Shree? What can she do today to improve?' and get information. That used to be very helpful to me; it would give me a clear plan on what I could and should be doing. Lisa ma'am is the reason why my bowling got a lot more clarity. She used to help me a lot, not just in cricket but in all things; she would give me a lot of guidance. She is a very funny person also, and she can handle anything with a smile. She doesn't take anything to heart, she is a very genuine person. How was your relationship with your captain Lanning? My relationship with Meg was good. She also used to guide me a lot. She would tell me how and where to bowl, what kind of fields to set, how to bowl to a particular field, and more. In the match, she would talk to me before every ball and remind me of the plan we discussed. I learned how to be calm from her, irrespective of the situation. When I was getting smashed for sixes in the WPL final, if Meg wasn't around, I would have been more nervous. She and the whole team were constantly cheering me on, telling me when I was doing well. That final was disappointing for the DC faithful. How do you look back at that match? When I look back, I feel bad about it. I think I could have performed slightly better, maybe. I felt that right after the match and even now, when I think about it. How did your family and friends react to your WPL stint? All of my friends and family watched my WPL matches. I got a lot of messages after the two matches I played in WPL. It took me two days to reply to all those messages. Those messages gave me a lot of confidence in my performance during the league. ALSO READ | Metronomic Hazlewood, the go-to-man for RCB There was a lot of praise for your fielding in the WPL. How do you go about working on improving that aspect of your game? I was a much better fielder, but I am not that good right now. I need to work on that, since I am just making my way back from a few niggles. It will take about six months for me to get back to my old self. It doesn't matter if I am in the playing 11. I would go and take catches daily, work with Milap (Mewada, the fielding coach at DC). If I wasn't playing in a match, I would finish bowling and stay with him and then take catches for about 20 minutes, which eventually helped me. Are you keeping an eye on the Women's World Cup in India later this year? Every player will want to take part in the World Cup, that's obvious. If I have to go there, I need to focus on the present. My dream is to play for India, and if possible, in a World Cup. But I am not going to think about that. I will keep working hard. Whatever has to happen will happen.
