Why Meg Lanning’s absence from Ashes no longer means crisis for Australia | Megan Maurice

Alyssa Healy will offer safe pair of hands as captain, plus batting prodigy Phoebe Litchfield has fans ready to tune in

There was a time in the recent history of cricket that the Australian women’s team without Meg Lanning was unthinkable. The idea of playing a pivotal series such as the Ashes without her would have been a major cause for concern. As one of the original awardees of a marketing contract, she has long been a face of women’s cricket in Australia. It is not only her incredible prowess on the field that would be missed, but also her ability to raise the sport’s profile by presenting viewers with a recognisable face.

But in the world of women’s sport, things are starting to move quickly. The Australian chokehold over women’s cricket has been bordering on unbreakable. While Lanning is undoubtedly a player still in her prime and one of the most dominant batters, such is the strength of the game that her absence is no longer a particularly pressing concern.