Ashleigh Gardner, the versatile Australian all-rounder, has become a fundamental player for the Australian cricket team. Her remarkable talents and key performances have not only aided her team in securing significant victories but have also earned her recognition as one of the most esteemed athletes in contemporary women’s cricket.
An essential milestone in Gardner’s career transpired during Australia’s victorious effort to defend the Ashes in July 2023. Her all-around prowess shone brightly in the one-off Test match at Trent Bridge, where she was honored as Player of the Match. Gardner’s significant contributions included a pivotal score of 41 runs alongside an impressive haul of 12 wickets, propelling Australia to a memorable win by 89 runs.
Looking back on this achievement, she stated, “There would be a few but I reckon winning the test match last year at Trent Bridge, not only from a personal point of view but to play five days of test match cricket and to get a result. Yeah, it was certainly really really cool.”
Gardner’s impact was also felt in the shorter format during the Ashes series. She emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the ODIs, capturing nine wickets while scoring 95 runs. In the T20Is, she added 72 runs and two wickets, reinforcing her status as a proficient player across all formats.
With the Ashes 2025 approaching, Gardner is eager for new achievements. This upcoming series will mark the inaugural day-night women’s Test at the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Expressing her enthusiasm, Gardner noted, “Two months until our first ever day night ashes test match here at MCG. I can’t wait to make some more memories here.”
The MCG holds significant sentimental value for Gardner. Reflecting on her favorite moment there, she mentioned, “It’s pretty hard to go past the T20 World Cup final here and then to top it off, being on the stage with Katy Perry, yeah that was pretty cool.”
Day-night matches have also given Gardner unforgettable experiences. She reminisced, “It would be at North Sydney Oval and watching Pez (Ellyse Perry) score 200. But I think the highlight for me was when she actually celebrated on 198. And then she had to have a pretty subdued celebration when she actually made the milestone of 200.”
As Australia gears up for the Ashes 2025, starting with an exciting ODI series on January 12, followed by three thrilling T20Is and culminating in a crucial Test match from January 30 to February 2, all eyes will be on Ashleigh Gardner.
Image Source: Ashleigh Gardner @ Instagram
