Meg Lanning returns as Stars captain as Sutherland steps aside

Meg Lanning will captain Melbourne Stars in WBBL12 after Annabel Sutherland decided to step aside following two seasons in charge. In their announcement, the Stars said the change would reduce Sutherland's responsibilities and allow her to concentrate more on her performances. Lanning, 34, has previously captained the club across five seasons.

Watch the highlights:

The club is retaining a shared approach to leadership under new coach Richard Pyrah. He has been working with Lanning, Sutherland and Kim Garth, and said all three would have a part in guiding the side. Sutherland will not carry an official leadership title but will continue to support Lanning and the wider group.

Lanning said another spell as captain had not been part of her plans, but she accepted because she wanted to help the team succeed. Senior players had discussed how to divide the responsibilities. Sutherland, meanwhile, said she still wanted to develop as a leader and believed working with Lanning and Pyrah would help prepare her for future captaincy opportunities.

Cricket.com.au reported that Sutherland's decision comes before an extensive international schedule for Australia's players. Between now and mid-April, Australia are due to host New Zealand for two series and visit Sri Lanka, India and South Africa. Pyrah worked with Sutherland at Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred in August, giving the pair experience together before his arrival at the Stars.

The captaincy change follows a season in which Sutherland took Melbourne into the WBBL finals for only the second time, according to Cricket.com.au. Lanning contributed a competition-leading 479 runs as the Stars finished in the top four. Since retiring from international cricket, she has continued to take leadership roles, including in the Women's Premier League and with Manchester Super Giants in this year's Hundred. Melbourne are still seeking their first WBBL title.

The Stars said they have 12 players signed, with three squad places remaining before their October 29 season opener. Their contracted group includes Sophie Day, Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson and Amy Jones alongside Lanning, Sutherland and Garth. The club has confirmed its captain while recruitment for the rest of the squad remains unfinished.