Ashleigh Gardner, the dynamic Australian all-rounder, has established herself as a cornerstone of the Australian cricket team. Her exceptional skills and clutch performances have not only helped her team clinch memorable victories but also made her one of the most celebrated players in modern women’s cricket.
A pivotal moment in Gardner’s career came during Australia’s successful campaign to retain the Ashes in July 2023. Her all-round brilliance was on full display in the one-off Test match at Trent Bridge, where she was named Player of the Match. Gardner’s impactful performance included scoring a crucial 41 runs and taking an astonishing 12 wickets, leading Australia to a memorable 89-run victory.
Reflecting on this triumph, she said, “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 influence extended to the shorter format of the game during the Ashes series. She was the leading wicket-taker in the ODIs, claiming nine wickets and scoring 95 runs. In the T20Is, she contributed with 72 runs and two wickets, solidifying her reputation as a player for all formats.
With the Ashes 2025 on the horizon, Gardner is already setting her sights on more milestones. This historic series will feature the first-ever day-night women’s Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Sharing her excitement, Gardner remarked, “Two months until our first ever day night ashes test match here at MCG. I can’t wait to make some more memories here.”
For Gardner, the MCG holds a special place in her heart. Recalling her favorite memory, she said “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 provided Gardner with unforgettable moments. Reflecting on one such instance, she shared, “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 sets its sights on the Ashes 2025, kicking off with a thrilling ODI series on January 12, followed by three electrifying T20Is and culminating in an intense Test match from January 30 to February 2, all eyes are on Ashleigh Gardner.
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