Meg Lanning has opted out of a Victorian state contract for the 2026-27 season, a move that effectively places her in a full-time freelance bracket within franchise cricket. The 34-year-old, who previously captained Australia, had already reduced her involvement with the state setup last season, appearing only briefly before redirecting her attention to overseas competitions.
Having stepped away from international cricket in 2023, Lanning has since structured her calendar around franchise commitments. Her schedule has included appearances in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and The Hundred, as well as a county T20 arrangement in England.
With the Victoria deal now ruled out, she is currently without a state agreement and also does not hold a Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) contract. This comes despite her strong batting output last season, where she finished among the leading run-scorers.
Cricket Victoria head of women’s cricket Kirby Short backed the call. “We support Meg’s decision,” Short said. “The women’s game is growing, and players are now presented with opportunities across the world, which is ultimately a positive reflection of the evolution of our game.”
Lanning has also begun looking beyond playing, starting to explore coaching opportunities. Most recently, she worked with Australia’s Under-19 group as a development coach during their tri-series against England and Sri Lanka in April.
