It has been a dominant tour in the Caribbean for Australia, but for Ashleigh Gardner, the story has been more complicated. While the team has secured a T20I series sweep, winning by 43, 17 and 40 runs—and taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODIs against the West Indies, Gardner’s individual form with the bat has yet to match that success.
The numbers underline the struggle. Across 2026, Gardner has averaged just 16.85 from 10 international innings, a sharp drop from her remarkable 2025 season where she averaged 63.77. In the current ODI series, scores of 12 and 5 have added to that lean stretch, reflecting a batter searching for rhythm rather than dictating terms. Despite her strong contributions with the ball in St Kitts, it is her batting that remains under scrutiny.
Gardner has been open about the challenge, pointing to confidence as a key factor. “I think with batting, you have to take a lot of confidence when you walk out to bat and it’s probably just something that I’m lacking a little bit at the moment,” she said. For a player known for her aggressive and fearless strokeplay, that slight dip in belief can have a noticeable impact on output.
Her preparation has also been interrupted at an unfortunate time. A hamstring niggle ruled her out of the final two T20Is in St Vincent, limiting her chances to spend time in the middle. “With the bat, I only played that one game in the T20 series and then had that annoying little niggle that hung around for a little bit longer than what I was hoping,” Gardner explained. The lack of continuity has made it harder to build momentum, particularly in a format she considers one of her strongest.
There is also a sense that she has not fully committed to her natural game during this period. “Hopefully going to this last game, I can play a little bit more freely… and I probably shied away from that a little bit,” she admitted. That hesitation has contributed to her inability to convert starts, a key reason behind her modest returns this year.
The mental side of the struggle has been equally significant. “Batting can be pretty frustrating at times when you’re not super confident,” Gardner said, capturing the reality of a phase where effort and results have not aligned. Even so, she has continued to contribute in other areas, particularly with the ball, where she has helped Australia maintain control throughout the series.
Injuries have further complicated matters. Despite feeling in peak physical condition, Gardner has dealt with recurring niggles over the past year, restricting her appearances especially in T20 cricket, where she has featured in just five of Australia’s last 12 matches. That stop-start run has made it difficult to establish consistency, something she will be eager to address moving forward.
With one match left in the Caribbean and a much-needed break approaching, Gardner has an opportunity to reset before the next phase of the international calendar. Australia’s focus will soon shift towards preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where her all-round ability will be crucial. For now, though, the priority is simpler—rediscover confidence, return to her natural attacking style, and turn starts into scores.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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