Lanning returns after long leave of absence ahead of Pakistan series while Wareham will play her first domestic game since rupturing her ACL in October 2021

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2023Australia captain Meg Lanning and legspinner Georgia Wareham will make their respective long-awaited returns after being named in Victoria’s WNCL squad to face New South Wales in two 50-over matches on January 5 and 7 at Junction Oval in Melbourne.Lanning, who has been named to return as Australia’s captain for the upcoming limited-overs series against Pakistan, will play her first game since taking an extended leave of absence following the Commonwealth Games in August last year.Wareham will play her first domestic match since rupturing the ACL in her knee in a WBBL match in October 2021.Annabel Sutherland, Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth have also been named in Victoria’s 13-player squad as they prepare for the Pakistan series.Lanning won’t captain Victoria despite returning to the side. Nicole Faltum will lead Victoria for the remainder of the WNCL season with Sophie Molineux ruled out of the rest of the summer after rupturing her ACL during the WBBL.Victoria confirmed that Makinley Blows has retired from state cricket after seven seasons in the WNCL. Rhys Mckenna and Ella Hayward have not been named in Victoria’s squad as both are in Australia’s Under-19 women’s team preparing for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.Victoria WNCL squad: Nicole Faltum (capt), Tiana Atkinson, Sam Bates, Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Olivia Henry, Meg Lanning, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham