Meg Lanning: Former Australia captain says weight loss and insomnia led to international retirement
Learn the reasons for Meg Lanning’s retirement from the Australian cricket team, which she attributed to sleeplessness and weight loss. Read her thoughts on this important choice.
Meg Lanning claims that her eating and exercise habits “spiralled” and caused her to unexpectedly take a leave of absence from the country.
Lanning, 32, a former captain of Australia, retired in November 2023 following his medical withdrawal from the summer Ashes series.
She claimed to be eating just two tiny meals a day and exercising up to 90 kilometers each week.
“I was doing too much exercise and not eating enough food,” Lanning said on the Howie Games podcast.
“I was in denial, even though everyone kept telling me something wasn’t quite right, and it kind of just spiralled out of control.”
“I was not in a place to be able to go on tour and play cricket and give the commitment levels required for that Ashes series mentally and physically.”
Lanning, who led her team to four T20 crowns, gold at the Commonwealth Games, and a 50-over World Cup victory in 2022, retired as one of the game’s most successful players and leaders.
At the age of 18, she made her debut in Australia in 2010 and went on to play 241 international games.
However, Lanning claimed that by the end of her illustrious career, everything was “out of whack” and that, as a result, she had changed into “a different person.”.
She went on, “It kind of turned into an obsession.” It provided me with a psychological getaway. I’d toss in the headphones. I wouldn’t bring my phone along. I enjoyed that a lot, as it gave me a sense of control.”
Despite not classifying it as an eating problem, Lanning says she did seek assistance and is now in “a good spot” despite experiencing sleeplessness as well.
“I dreaded nighttime because I knew I would go to bed and not be able to sleep,” she recalled.
“I stopped interacting with friends and family a lot. It kind of became the new normal, and I was doing this without realizing it.
“But I’ve really started to understand how actually talking to people and letting people know can actually help.”
Lanning is still playing cricket domestically. She recently led the Delhi Capitals to the Women’s Premier League championship, and this summer she inked a contract with the London Spirit to participate in The Hundred for the first time.
For more information, visit https://sportzbiz.co.uk/