Lanning ready to take next step

Teammates have thrown their support behind Meg Lanning after the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars captain was yesterday announced as the newest member of the Channel Nine cricket commentary team for this summer.

Lanning, who became Australian cricket’s youngest ever captain, male or female, earlier this year will add her unique insights to the broadcast of the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup in October and is expected to feature in Channel Nine’s coverage of Australia’s Twenty20 International series against South Africa in November.

“I think it’s a good next step for females within cricket,” Lanning said today, while at a beachside media appearance with Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.

“The past players, who have knowledge of the game, are the ones I like the best so hopefully I can add insight as a current player and the viewers are interested in what I have to say.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to get in there with the Channel Nine team.”

The announcement came nearly five months after Lanning led her side to victory at the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh and mere minutes after securing a comprehensive series win over Pakistan in the third T20I on the Gold Coast.

Despite strong support from key powerbrokers, including the Channel Nine and Cricket Australia hierarchies, the social media reaction has been mixed with a small number of fans vowing to boycott the broadcast if Lanning is involved.

“Maybe they should leave their comments until they see it unfold,” Southern Stars wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy told cricket.com.au.

“Cricket commentary’s been very male dominated for a very long time and people like that tradition and don’t want to see it broken.

“But I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear a female in the commentary box and hear Meg’s insights into the game.

“Meg’s played a lot now and she’s the Australian captain so she’s got one of the better cricket brains going around.

“I think she’s going to do a fantastic job.”

Far from worrying about Lanning’s lack of commentary experience, Healy, who debuted in the green and gold the same year as her captain, is far more concerned with the top T20 batter’s ability to bring the laughs on air.

“Hopefully she can crack a few funnies,” Healy said.

“Meg’s generally a little bit shy but I think we might see her come out of her shell a little bit in the commentary box.”

Fresh off a 37-ball half-century in game three against Pakistan, opener Elyse Villani couldn’t be more confident her captain will have no issues trading a bat for a microphone come October.

“I think Meg will be fantastic,” she said today, while at a beachside media appearance with Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.

“She’s got a good sense of humour and she’s also got a great knowledge of the game.

“I think she’ll definitely add something to the team and I’m looking forward to listening to her.”

But when questioned as to which current commentator Lanning is most likely to resemble on air, Villani was far less assured.

“I’m not sure to be honest,” she said.

“She won’t say anything too controversial.

“She won’t cause a stir, so she’s probably not like Shane Warne too much.”

The broadcast team’s addition of one of the best cricketers in the world is shaping as a major boon for Channel Nine, and their pursuit of increased female fan engagement, with head of sport Steve Crawly telling Fairfax Media how fortunate they were to find someone of Lanning’s sporting pedigree.

“Meg came along with a wonderful attitude to her cricket, a wonderful reputation and style of play … immediately you could tell she was special off the field and on the field.”

"We've had some discussions with her and everything just sounds right.

“Now we'll do some Matador stuff and if both sides are happy with that, we'll work out what's next.

“We'd hope it's good enough to have a look at the South Africa tour in November, which will again depend on her availability and how we both handle this first step.”

Allrounder, and second T20I player of the match, Delissa Kimmince is particularly excited by the opportunity Lanning’s appointment presents for women’s cricket.

“I think that’s a good way for us (women’s cricketers) to get our name out there,” Kimmince said.

“It’s good recognition and hopefully Meg can get the Southern Stars name out there a little bit more and really show Australia and the world that us females really do know our cricket.”

Catch Meg Lanning and Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars as they take on Pakistan in their fourth and final T20I on the Gold Cast LIVE, with ABC Grandstand commentary, tomorrow on cricket.com.au