Following the all-rounder’s unusual collision with Georgia Wareham prior to Australia’s Twenty20 international match against New Zealand, Ashleigh Gardner has been ruled out with a concussion.
Gardner and Wareham got into an altercation during a warm-up game on Thursday night, which caused her to miss Australia’s series opener victory in Mackay.
Wareham also recovered from the knock to play in the five-wicket victory, and he has been ruled out of any concussion symptoms.
The current Belinda Clark Medallist, Gardner, laughed off the situation at first, but then she broke down in tears. Concussions have plagued the 27-year-old throughout her professional career, with seven occurring in her terrible past. Gardner saw a neuropsychologist in 2018 as a result of the problem, having experienced four in a 20-month period.
Ash Gardner is out due to concussion protocols…
After this head clash with Georgia Wareham in a warm up game 😮#AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/fN9tNWiJoc
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) September 19, 2024
Gardner will therefore be relieved to hear the news on Saturday, since she and Wareham will get to participate in Sunday’s second Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Mackay.
Ahead of the World Cup in the UAE next month, Australia is also concerned about additional injuries. Grace Harris (calf) and Kim Garth (knee) also missed the New Zealand series.
In the second game of the series, Beth Mooney, who will play her 100th Twenty20 international, stated that Australia would be trying to get better.
Mooney remarked, “For us, it was a good game, not a great one.” We therefore aim to improve every aspect of the game, perhaps starting a little stronger at the bat in terms of wickets lost, and then potentially improving in a few different areas with the ball.
“[New Zealand] got 140 on the board and they perhaps were a few runs short, so we’ll have to adjust tomorrow night if they come out pretty hard.”
Speaking about the historic match, Mooney remarked, “It’s always nice to play one game for Australia, but to play a 100 when there was probably a time when I didn’t think I’d play any is very special.” The match will take place at the location of one of her greatest performances, the unbeaten 125 against India in 2021.
Also Read: Litchfield rescues Australia after Gardner’s disastrous pre-game injury
Due to a cautious approach ahead of the T20 World Cup, Sophie Devine missed the first game of the series for New Zealand while she recovered from an ankle injury.
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