Alex Blackwell believes Australia can replace Meg Lanning

Australian Women team’s captain Meg Lanning carried a shoulder injury throughout the Women’s World Cup 2017 in England. But being the most important member of that team she opted to play through. She underwent a shoulder surgery after returning back home from the World Cup. The injury has ruled Meg out from multi-format Ashes, and another captain will take over the captaincy duty.

Though it is a huge blow to the team given Lanning’s contribution not just as the skipper but as a batter. Blackwell on her part said that Australia needs the captain for her leadership qualities. The vice-captain argued that Australian team has many leaders and they can collectively try to fill the void.

“Obviously, Meg is a huge loss, not only as a player but as a leader, So the good thing in our Australian women’s team is we have got so many leaders to choose from to fill that role. I’m very confident we’ll move ahead and perform well in this Ashes series coming up,” Blackwell said as quoted by the official website of Cricket Australia.

The 34-year-old has led NSW Lendlease Breakers and has served as deputy to Meg. Considering her experience, it won’t be a surprise if she is given the responsibility to replace the injured captain.

“I’ve had the honour to be vice-captain for a very long time and also step up into the Australian captain role, I would be honoured to hold any leadership role and do that job, whatever it is, to the best of my ability as I always do,” Blackwell further added

Rachel Haynes is another contender

Blackwell might seem the favourite for the job, but it isn’t yet sure. When Meg Lanning was injured during the World Cup, Rachel Haynes replaced her instead of the vice-captain. Australian selectors can make a similar decision once again, but Blackwell seemed relaxed about the situation.

“(Haynes) is a fantastic cricketer and we’ve seen her absent from the Australian squad for a few years, that’s rectified now, it’s great to see Rachel back in the squad,” she said about Rachel.

“I got to work alongside her as a vice-captain (in the Women’s World Cup). Here at NSW I have her leadership behind me, so she handled that challenging opportunity really well and we got two wins under her captaincy,” Alex Blackwell concluded