Manchester Super Giants have confirmed the appointment of Meg Lanning as their captain for The Hundred 2026, signalling a leadership shift built around experience, achievement, and ambition. The Australian great takes charge as the franchise prepares for a new phase in the competition.
Lanning is widely considered among the most accomplished captains in women’s cricket. During her tenure with the Australia women’s national team, she was part of a period of remarkable success that included two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumphs and five ICC Women’s T20 World Cup titles. Australia also secured a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Notably, five of those global titles came with Lanning at the helm, placing her among the most successful leaders in the sport’s history. Known for her composure in high-pressure situations and sharp tactical awareness, she has combined leadership qualities with consistent batting performances to help shape one of the game’s most dominant sides.
Her move to Manchester marks the start of a fresh chapter for both player and franchise. Across 18 appearances in The Hundred, Lanning has accumulated 457 runs at a strike rate of 132, including three half-centuries. These contributions underline her ability to maintain consistency while scoring at a brisk pace in the competition.
Reflecting on her involvement in the team-building process, Lanning said, “First appearance at an auction, yes, and yeah, the strategy is really intriguing, so yeah, you’ll find out the results of the auction coming up.”
She also expressed enthusiasm about working alongside the coaching staff as the squad begins to take shape. “Yeah, super excited. Really looking forward to bringing the list together and just trying to get the best out of everyone, working with Motty (Matthew Mott) as well. We’ve got a good relationship, and I think the combination between the two of us hopefully will set up the franchise nicely and certainly looking for some success,” Lanning said.
Discussing the significance of the captaincy role, Lanning added, “It’s a huge honour to be named captain of the franchise, so I’m super, super excited about the opportunity. It’s always something I look forward to, so I can’t wait to get stuck into it.”
Her appointment reflects Manchester Super Giants’ intent to build a competitive unit guided by proven leadership and a results-driven mindset. With Lanning’s experience and calm presence, the franchise will look to establish a strong foundation as it prepares for the upcoming edition of The Hundred.
