The Australian women’s team, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, is currently hosting England, led by skipper Heather Knight, for the ongoing 8th edition of the multi-format Women’s Ashes. The series got underway with the three-match ODI series at the North Sydney Oval, Sydney on 12th January 2025 (Sunday).
The 27-year-old veteran all-rounder from New South Wales Ashleigh Gardner made her ODI debut on 2nd March 2017 in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Over the years, she has established herself as one of the most reliable all-rounders for Australia with her impactful contributions across formats for her side.
The former White Ferns skipper Amy Satterthwaite was Ashleigh Gardner’s maiden victim in the ODI format for Australia in the format. She picked up her 50th ODI wicket in the 25th match against Bangladesh when she dismissed Murshida Khatun in the 9th over of the innings during the 12th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2022, hosted by New Zealand.
The Aussie all-rounder has achieved another remarkable landmark, in the 1st ODI at the North Sydney Oval, in the ongoing 8th edition of the multi-format Women’s Ashes 2025. She picked up her 100th victim in the ODI in her 71st bowling innings when she cleaned up Lauren Bell to wrap up the England innings on the first ball of the 44th over of the innings after the Australian skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and inserted the visitors to bat first. It was also her 3rd wicket of the innings, ending with impressive match figures of 6.1-0-19-3 in her spell.
Her best performance with the ball for her side in the format came on 11th December 2024 in the 3rd ODI of the series against India, when she returned with impressive match figures of 10-1-30-5 in her spell at the W.A.C.A. Perth. It was also her maiden five-wicket haul in the format.
Ashleigh Gardner made her T20I debut on 17th February 2017 in the 1st T20I against New Zealand at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which also happens to be her international debut. She has picked up 78 wickets in the format at a decent average of 20.46 and an economy of 6.55 in 83 innings with the ball for her side in the format. Former White Ferns all-rounder Amy Satterthwaite was her maiden victim in the T20I format, which came in the 2nd game of her career, in the 2nd T20I on 19th February 2017 at Simonds Stadium, South Geelong, Victoria.
She picked up her 50th wicket in the format in the 15th game against South Africa in the 8th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. She achieved the landmark when she picked up the wicket of the former South African skipper Sune Luus in the final over of the innings. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the format came on 11th February 2023 in the first game of their campaign against New Zealand in the 8th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. She returned with sensational match figures of 3-0-12-5 in her spell at Boland Park, Paarl. It was also her maiden five-wicket haul in the format for her side.
Ashleigh Gardner has also picked up 23 wickets at an average of 21 and an economy of 2.66 in 10 innings with the ball for her side, since making her debut in the red-ball format on 18th July 2019 against Australia in the Women’s Ashes in Taunton. Katherine Sciver-Brunt was her maiden victim in the red-ball format. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the format came on 22nd June 2023 in the Women’s Ashes when she returned with mind-blowing figures of 20-1-66-8 in her spell in the final innings of the game at Trent Bridge Nottingham. She returned with match figures of 55.2-4-165-12 in her match-defining spell for her side.
She also completed 200 wickets across formats at the international level when she dismissed the England vice-captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt (19 off 28 balls) on the first ball of the 22nd over of the innings in Women’s Ashes 2025 opener in the 1st ODI at the North Sydney Oval, Sydney on 12th January 2025 (Sunday). She also became the joint 2nd fastest woman to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in ODIs alongside the former South African all-rounder Dane Van Niekerk.
Ashleigh Gardner was also awarded the Player of the Match for her impressive all-round contributions. She returned with sensational match figures of 6.1-0-19-3 in her spell with the ball and also scored a vital unbeaten knock of 42* (44 balls) with the bat for her side, while also taking a couple of wickets. She played a pivotal role in helping the home side draw first blood in the ongoing Women’s Ashes as they sealed the 1st ODI by 4 wickets in hand and 67 balls to spare.
Loves all things female cricket
