Australian cricket champion Meg Lanning will forgo a Victorian state contract to go “all in” on Twenty20 franchise opportunities around the world.
Lanning had shifted partly toward the Twenty20 circuit after her sudden international retirement in November 2023 but remained on Victoria’s books.
The veteran run-scorer played four games for the Vics last season around the WBBL and her WPL commitments.
Remarkably, Lanning, 34, is still considered one of the world’s best batters despite no longer playing international cricket.
Victoria head of female cricket Kirby Short said Lanning’s decision reflected the positive expansion of the women’s game.
“I think if we look back on the period of time where she finished up with Australia and then I think a period figuring out what cricket was going to look like,” she said.
“That was that couple of years she was on contract with Victoria and I think what’s exciting with what she’s got ahead of her now, much like the male game, we’re increasingly seeing the growth in this space.
“The fact she can now go all in on franchise cricket, not taking a contract with Cricket Victoria, means she has the flexibility to pick and choose what competition she wants to play in, knowing she has opportunities all around the world.
“Much like we’ve seen Glenn Maxwell do in the male space, it’s nice she’s got the opportunity to do that and the women’s game is in a place where she has that choice to make.
“We’re supportive of that decision and excited about what that can be and hope to continue having that relationship with her.
“She’s a born and bred Victorian who still very much cares about the program and cares about growing that next generation of talent.”
The Vics endured a brutal 2025-26 summer, finishing winless and slipping into negative points after an overrate penalty.
Short said Victoria hoped Lanning would continue to play a role with the young group despite stepping away from the program.
“It’s a privilege when you’ve got someone like that as a resource … we’re certainly not denying that we’d love to have the experience of Meg Lanning around,” she said.
“It’s quite unique in a domestic program to have someone who is still playing their best cricket not involved in the Australian program.
“We’re disappointed not to have her around the group but still optimistic she can play a role from time to time and we’re supportive of the decision she wants to make for her career.”
The Vics will regain one star full-time in Tayla Vlaeminck after she was cut from Cricket Australia’s contract list.
Vlaeminck has had a wretched run with injury but turned a corner in April when she featured in a showpiece game.
At her best, prior to repeat foot and shoulder setbacks, Vlaeminck was tagged “The Bendigo Bullet” for her capacity to bowl over 120 km/h.
Short cut an excited figure talking about Vlaeminck, saying the fit and firing speedster would contribute as much in the dressing room as out in the middle.
“I am really excited to have Tayla Vlaeminck back in our squad full time, she’s obviously world class from a skill perspective,” she said.
“But I think what people don’t see out on the field is her capacity to connect a changeroom and a whole variety of people.
“When you’ve got someone with her experience, but someone as humble and hardworking who’s had the resilience building she’s gone through.
“I think that wisdom, even though she’s still young with plenty of cricket ahead of her, it’s sort of that bittersweet feeling for her not having that full time CA contract.
“She cares so deeply about the Victorian program and she’s genuinely excited by the idea of being around this group and helping that young core understand what high-performance behaviours look like.”
Short said Victoria had made great inroads in improving last season’s results, undergoing a system-wide review.
VICTORIAN CONTRACT LIST 2026-27
Ira Aery (Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies), Sophie Day (Prahran), Samara Dulvin (Ringwood), Nicole Faltum (Dandenong), Tess Flintoff (Ringwood), Kim Garth (Dandenong)*, Hasrat Gill (Melbourne), Olivia Henry (Prahran), Milly Illingworth (Geelong), Rhys McKenna (Prahran), Sophie Molineux (Dandenong)*, Indigo Noble (Melbourne), Mia Perrin (Geelong), Georgia Prestwidge (Melbourne), Zoe Samuel (Melbourne), Molly Strano (Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies), Annabel Sutherland (Prahran)*, Tayla Vlaeminck (TBC), Georgia Wareham (Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies)*, Bronte Leishman (Geelong, Rookie)
*Denotes Australian Contracted Players
