Aussіe stаr Asһ Gаrdner refleсts on ‘weіrd’ wаrm-uр іnjury, reveаls bаn аfter brіllіаnt T20 return

Despite nursing a sore jaw and trying to wrap her head around the “weird” incident that knocked her out of the opening game of Australia’s T20 series against New Zealand, star bowler Ash Gardner was confident nothing was seriously amiss with her health.

It took just one game for Gardner, who shapes as a key pillar in Australia’s bid to win a fourth straight T20 World Cup next month, to demonstrate the head bump she received in a pre-match warm-up in Mackay last Thursday had not knocked the shine from her.

The 27-year-old was the player of the match in Mackay on Sunday night when taking 3-16, which followed a handy 18 with the bat, to help Australia secure the series with a 29-run win.

Gardner was ruled out of the opening match of the series shortly before the coin toss after she was involved in a heavy collision with teammate Georgia Wareham, which forced the all-rounder to enter concussion protocols as a precaution.

The caution was understandable, for the reigning Belinda Clark Award winner saw a neuropsychologist in 2018 after suffering four concussions in less than two years.

“It was a bit of a weird occasion, having a head collision in a warm-up. I guess that was pretty weird to wrap my head around, but I have actually felt really good the last couple of days,” she said.

“I have had a lot of head knocks in the past, so I kind of know when I am concussed and when I am not, and have followed the protocols in terms of coming back, but I felt like I have been in a really good place in the last couple of days and was confident coming into the game that I was going to be fine.”

But as another precaution leading into the World Cup, which has been moved from Bangladesh to Dubai due to security concerns, Gardner quipped the “vortex” game should be banned and is adamant she and Wareham, who is nicknamed “the wolf”, will never match up on each other again.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Ashleigh Gardner of Australia poses after being awarded Player of the Match during game two of the Women's T20 International Series between Australia and New Zealand at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 22, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

On a more serious note, Gardner said while there were elements of Australia’s game that needed to be tightened, the bowling performance was “really pleasing heading ... into a World Cup” given the host nation was in a vulnerable position.

The Australians batted first but were bowled out for 142 — Gardner believes 160 is a par mark in T20 matches — but were able to restrict New Zealand to 7-113. Aside from Gardner’s three-wicket haul, Wareham, Annabel Sutherland and Darcie Brown claimed wickets.

“To be brutally honest, we probably left a few runs out there with the bat. We had a really good start, but when you lose wickets in clumps, it stalls the innings a little bit,” she said.

“But in saying that, I think all the bowlers did a magnificent job. I think anyone who got an opportunity with the ball did a really fantastic role with what the situation asked.”

But she said Amelia Kerr, who snared the wicket of Gardner for 18 along with Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt and Sophie Molineux, was superb for New Zealand and that the Australian batters needed to be a little more wary when facing the Kiwi star.

The performance of Australia’s spin bowlers is encouraging given turning wickets are the norm in Dubai, though Gardner conceded the next month was a step “into the unknown”.

“Certainly going into conditions like Dubai ... I know (only) a couple of people have played there, so we are kind of going into the unknown a little bit,” she said.

“But knowing that if we have a defendable total like 140, we know our bowling unit is good enough to restrict them to staying under that.

“The wicket was still pretty good when they came out and the ball was sliding on nicely, but I think just the skill we possess in all departments, from the spin department and also to the quicks with their change-ups, I think it was a pretty clinical bowling performance.”

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Amelia Kerr of New Zealand celebrates dismissing Ashleigh Gardner of Australia during game two of the Women's T20 International Series between Australia and New Zealand at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 22, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Australia eased past New Zealand’s target of 143 for the loss five wickets in the opening match in Mackay last week but will be looking to fire with the bat as they seek a clean sweep of the series in Queensland on Tuesday night.

Gardner is confident in the Aussies depth and said the host nation will be looking to set a big target if they win the toss and bat first in order to further boost their confidence heading towards Dubai.

“Having someone like Annabel Sutherland batting at eight is pretty ridiculous, but that just shows the capabilities of our team, that we can go hard at the top of the order and then we have so many batters to come in after that,” she said.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Ashleigh Gardner of Australia bowls during game two of the Women's T20 International Series between Australia and New Zealand at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 22, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“I think the benchmark for cricket is a minimum 160, so to not have reached that yet, I know there is still a lot left in the tank, so hopefully in this last game, if we do bat first, we can put a massive total on the board.”