Lanning quietly passes magic number to enter history books

When Australia captain Meg Lanning ran a single to move from 46 to 47 during Wednesday’s third and final ODI against the West Indies in Antigua, she quietly claimed another slice of history.

It took her to 6222 international runs, eclipsing the legendary Karen Rolton as the Australian women’s team’s leading run scorer across all formats.

It’s a remarkable feat for a player who is only 27 years of age, but also seems destined to break just about every record in the book.

With Australia’s women playing more regularly than ever before and the growth in T20I cricket –  a format played just once by the great Belinda Clark, and 15 times by Rolton – Lanning does have more opportunities to compile those runs than those who’ve come before.

But it’s worth noting she’s reached this milestone in 169 matches (4 Tests, 77 ODIs and 88 T20Is), one appearance less in the green and gold than four-time Belinda Clark Medal winner Rolton.

The rate at which Lanning has racked up her runs is seriously impressive, even more so when you consider she lost seven months to a serious shoulder injury in 2017-18.

Lanning’s unbeaten half-century at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was her 13th in one-dayers, taking her to 3555 runs at 52.27 in the 50-over game – a format where she’s already scored more hundreds than any other woman.

In Tests she’s struck 185 runs from four matches, while in T20Is Lanning is Australia’s leading run scorer and sits fourth overall, with 2493 runs at 36.13.

Speaking after Australia wrapped up a 3-0 series sweep against their Caribbean rivals, Lanning was more interested in deflecting attention onto her team’s winning streak, which has seen them claim their last 15 one-dayers.

"Rolts is a superstar of the game, she was incredible to watch and was an incredible player, so it’s a nice accolade to get," Lanning said.

Image Id: B4C06022AD73462FA1041C4B8D769219 Image Caption: Karen Rolton bats her way to a century against New Zealand in 2004 // Getty

"I haven’t given it too much thought but to go past someone who was so good is special."

While Lanning isn’t one to revel in her own achievements, teammate Megan Schutt was full of praise for her captain following Wednesday’s game.

"She’s a freak, in a great way," Schutt told cricket.com.au.

"She’s someone who, if you put in seven points (fielders), she’s still going to get it through.

"She knows her strengths, she knows the tempo of the game and she chases bloody well, so the ultimate cricketer really."

Australia have swept their last five ODI series, a run that started in India last March and has since seen them move unblemished through contests against Pakistan, New Zealand, England and now the West Indies.

Image Id: 2C7948A4F93449A28177B91AE01C7ECF Image Caption: Australia celebrate a 3-0 series win over the West Indies // Getty

In the current edition of the ICC Women’s ODI Championship – which determines automatic World Cup qualification - they’ve won 14 of 15 matches played, with a solitary loss to England during the 2017 Ashes the only mark against their names.

"I think in the past we haven’t finished off series as well as we’d have liked and we’ve let teams back in," Lanning said.

"We’ve got that dominant nature now where we want to make sure we don’t let them back in and we keep playing the way the want to.

"And the good thing is we’ve got so many different contributors, everyone is eager to do well."

With the ODI series done and dusted, the Australian and West Indian squads now fly to Barbados for three T20Is at Kensington Oval, beginning Saturday at 7pm local time (9am Sunday AEST).

Fans in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea can stream the series live and free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App, while fans elsewhere can watch on the West Indies Cricket YouTube channel.

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

West Indies ODI squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Hayley Matthews (vc), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

First ODI: Australia won by 178 runs

Second ODI: Australia won by 151 runs

September 11: Third ODI, Australia won by eight wickets

Twenty20 Internationals

September 14: First T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 16: Second T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 18: Third T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados