Lanning opts out of Victoria contract to focus on franchise cricket

Meg Lanning has decided not to sign a state contract with Victoria for the 2026-27 season, effectively shifting into a freelance franchise cricket position full time. The 34-year-old former Australia captain had already stepped back from the state setup last season, featuring only briefly before shifting focus to overseas leagues. Since retiring from international cricket in 2023, she has built a schedule around franchise stints, including the WPL and The Hundred, along with a county T20 deal in England. Even though she was one of the top run scorers in the league last season, her decision means that she does not have a WBBL contract or a state deal at the moment. "We support Meg's decision," Kirby Short, Cricket Victoria's head of female cricket, 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 recently also began exploring coaching, working with Australia's Under-19 side as a development coach during their tri-series against England and Sri Lanka in April.