Kudos to Channel Nine, who – perhaps in response to criticism levelled at their “boys’ club” on this very website last November – have decided to add a more feminine touch to their cricket commentary box.

Meg Lanning, 22, is the captain of Australia’s women’s cricket team, the Southern Stars, and she will join luminaries such as Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell in commentating on the domestic one-day tournament next month.

Should that prove a success, there could be a free seat for the Twenty20 internationals between Australia and South Africa in November.

• Warnie and the boys a boon for women’s sport 
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Lanning is used to breaking down walls: at 14 she played with the boys for Carey Grammar – the first female to play in an Associated Public Schools first XI.

Meg Lanning will bring plenty of insight to the Channel Nine commentary team. Photo: Getty

Experience working in close proximity with teenage boys will no doubt stand ‘Lanno’ in good stead dealing with Tubby, Heals, Slats and the boys.

It’s not before time – the Nine team has evolved considerably over the past decade, yet somehow the coverage still feels staid.

Her challenge will be to find a space among the big egos and personalities on the team.

While nostalgia is something most cricket fans embrace (who didn’t get a little misty hearing Bill Lawry during England’s annihilation at the MCG last December?), a shake-up wouldn’t go astray.

You knew the network was out of ideas when reports emerged of them potentially allowing Richie Benaud to broadcast from his couch this summer.

What next? Hiring a medium so we can channel Tony Greig and hear him cheerleading for the Proteas one more time?

Come on, I’ve got as much love for those greats as the next man, but Richie doesn’t owe us anything – time to let him hang up his beige jacket for good and enjoy his retirement.

Lanning’s voice could be just the injection of fresh air the team needs, and Channel Nine deserves credit for the appointment.

It appears, however, the bashful network did not make the first move – with Lanning revealing on radio station SEN that Cricket Australia approached Nine with the idea.

As for what we can expect from Lanning with mic in hand, the woman herself says she is a fan of the insight brought to coverage from former players, and likes Shane Warne’s work.

“I do watch a lot of cricket so I have heard a fair few commentators and I think the best commentators that I’ve found are the ex-players who really understand the game and have a good knowledge,” she told SEN.

Let’s hope for Lanning’s sake her new employers give her time to find her groove, and let’s hope cricket fans do the same.

“I really enjoy listening to those insights, I think you can get a different perspective once you’ve played the game. Hopefully me still playing and being in the game will provide a good insight as well.”

Insight should not be a problem for Lanning. She has been involved in cricket long enough to have accrued a goldmine of knowledge on the sport.

But, as we have seen through the years in all sports, that doesn’t necessarily translate to successful broadcasting.

Her challenge will be to find a space among the big egos and personalities on the team, just as the challenge for them will be to make Lanning feel included and give her room to grow into the role.

Let’s hope for Lanning’s sake her new employers give her time to find her groove, and let’s hope cricket fans do the same.

Kelli Underwood’s short-lived stint calling AFL showed just how resistant most (blokes) are to any kind of change when it comes to their beloved televised sport.