Having gone through what went wrong at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Australia rebounded with a series clean sweep of India as they build towards a defence of their 50-over crown next year.
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“And I think that’s the most exciting thing, that anyone that comes into this group is excited to be here, really wants to be here, and just striving to be better every day.”
It was a welcome return to form for Gardner, who shrugged off her struggles in the WBBL with 50 off 64 balls after Australia had collapsed to 78 for 4. It was her first ODI half-century in almost 18 months and she backed up with the ball to claim career-best figures of 5 for 30.
“I felt it’s one of those things… you feel really confident in the nets but then it doesn’t replicate in the middle,” Gardner said. “For me, I knew that I just had to spend a little bit of time out in the middle and I came in at a pretty tough time.
“I just love batting with Bells [Sutherland]. It’s always really positive, just keep each other going in those moments and knowing that if we just got through that tough little phase… it would be fine. And I guess that’s the messaging that I just tried to keep telling myself.”
“She’s a very cool, calm person. And I guess what I challenged her with was to try and think outside the box. What I tried to throw to her was just different ideas at different points to get her mind ticking over.”
Australia, however, did not submit a flawless performance in Perth having endured a ragged effort in the field marked by five dropped catches. It is an area they will hope to brush up quickly ahead of the three-match ODI series in New Zealand starting on December 19.
“We want to be the best fielding team in the world and that certainly wasn’t on show tonight,” Gardner said. “I think there were glimpses of brilliance, but then there’s just those little moments where maybe it’s a lapse of concentration.
“We do train really hard on our fielding but maybe it’s just training under pressure more, and try to do some different drills.”
“I think this group’s in a really good place at the moment. We’ve been really successful in 50-over cricket. So it’s just kind of going on to the next progression and that’s obviously looking forward to the World Cup”
Ashleigh Gardner
Australia took precautions ahead of the New Zealand tour with Voll and Sophie Molineux leaving the field after diving efforts left them feeling ginger, while the fitness of Healy will continue to be monitored.
“Healy’s coming away with us, we’ll see how she goes. But she’s progressing well, which is really pleasing,” Gardner said. “I’m sure she’ll be chomping at the bit to play that first game in New Zealand.
“The group’s just really excited. It’s a really cool little period. We’re only over there for ten days before the Christmas break. I think it’s going to really spur the team on to finish off what we’ve done here in this series.
“I think this group’s in a really good place at the moment. We’ve been really successful in 50-over cricket. So it’s just kind of going on to the next progression and that’s obviously looking forward to the World Cup.”
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
Source: ESPN Crickinfo