Meg Lanning enjoying record-breaking season
Australia's women's player Meg Lanning continues to re-write the record books at all levels of cricket as her 2012/13 season goes from strength to strength.
Lanning has enjoyed a dominant season at international, domestic and club level, having broken records across all competitions.
The 20-year-old's ODI average has rocketed to 51.46 and in only 14 ODIs she has amassed three centuries, two half-centuries and boasts a remarkable strike rate of 109.85. Her good form comes at the right time for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, who are preparing for the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 in India early next year.
In the third ODI of the Rose Bowl Series against New Zealand on Monday Lanning broke the record for the fastest 50 and fastest 100 in an ODI by an Australian female cricketer. Requiring only 23 balls to reach 50 runs, she then went on to notch her century from 45 balls. Her knock included 18 fours and three sixes and saw her overtake Karen Rolton on the honour roll, who took 57 balls to score a century in 2000.
While playing for VicSpirit in the WNCL earlier this season Lanning broke the record for the highest individual score in a WNCL match when she hit 175, including 27 boundaries, against the ACT Meteors; once again passing Rolton (173) in the record books.
Only eight days after snatching the WNCL record, Lanning broke the record for the highest score in a Victorian Women's Cricket Association (VWCA) match. Playing for Box Hill, she posted 241 off 136 balls, which included 34 fours and four sixes.
The right-handed batsman also enjoyed a successful ICC Women's World Twenty20 2012, finishing the event as the third-highest run-scorer and earning herself a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Women's National Selection Panel (WNSP) Chair of Selectors Julie Savage said she was fortunate to have witnessed many of Lanning's recent performances.
"Meg Lanning has played some very special innings this season at club, state and international level. I was fortunate to witness her WNCL record breaking 175 at Manuka Oval earlier this season and took advantage of the live-streaming to watch her outstanding efforts in the current Rose Bowl Series," Savage said.
"I would imagine that opposition teams in the forthcoming ICC Women's World Cup will regard her wicket as extremely important, such is her impact on the games she succeeds in. To have made three ODI centuries in her 14 international games to date is an outstanding effort.
"Despite her success and the hype that surrounds her current achievements, Meg remains level-headed. Her approach will ensure she continues to do the work required to match and surpass her wonderful start to International cricket."