Meg Lanning believes Phoebe Litchfield is the ideal candidate to succeed Alyssa Healy as captain of the Australian women’s team. Following Australia’s semi-final exit against India at the Women’s World Cup in Navi Mumbai, Healy confirmed that she would not feature in another ODI World Cup.
While Tahlia McGrath currently serves as vice-captain and has led the side in Healy’s absence, Lanning, who guided Australia to five ODI World Cup titles and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, expressed strong confidence in Litchfield’s leadership potential.
Litchfield’s calm temperament and form impress Meg Lanning
"I think all of those that you mentioned are certainly in the running. I'd add Phoebe Litchfield into the mix because I think she's got a very level head on her shoulders. She's already shown that she's come in and settled herself nicely into the team. And I think she's got a really good temperament too. So I think she's certainly an option,” Lanning told The ICC Review.
Litchfield was in outstanding form during the World Cup, finishing as Australia’s second-highest run-scorer. In seven matches, the left-hander amassed 304 runs at an average of 50.66. Her century against India in the semi-final made her the youngest and fastest batter to score a hundred in a World Cup knockout match.
"The good thing with the team is that there are a number of different leaders that could come into that role whenever Healy finishes up," Lanning added. "I think it's exciting in some ways whenever that transition does happen. It'll bring something different to the team, and they'll have their own spin on what they want to do and their own leadership style, and I think that could be really cool for the group. So I am going to go for her (Litchfield)."
Litchfield has enjoyed an impressive ODI career so far, scoring 1,287 runs at an average of 41.51, including three centuries and eight fifties. She also jointly holds the record for the fastest fifty in Women’s T20Is — reaching the mark in just 18 balls — alongside New Zealand great Sophie Devine.
