On October 30, 2025, Ash Gardner didn’t just play a vital knock in the much-exciting semi final clash of the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup. She played an innings to savour. One that should definitely give a lot many youngsters around her immediate ecosystem back in the domestic structure tons of hope that they too, can make it into the Australian women’s team, unless they play like her.
And Ash Gardner, it ought to be noted, doesn’t play like a regular hitter or timer of the ball.
She bats to win games for her team, only to back it up with her game changing spin bowling and while a lot of what she can or will do to help her team usurp India is yet to be seen, something can be said for certain.
Had Ashleigh Katherine Gardner from Bankstown not played in a manner she did at Navi Mumbai when, the Aussies won’t have had the bankable half centurion when most needed.
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A timely 45-ball-63 enabled the fearless and big hitting right hander to add that much needed thrust from down the order which is when the batting partners at the other end were in no way, legendary, let alone regular cameo hitters. There was Alana King. Before that Kim Garth. And Sophie Molineux and after, Megan Schutt.
Whether India end up chasing down the mammoth 339, and needless to say, half the world would be rallying behind Harmanpreet Kaur’s dauntless ladies, Ash batted as if India’s bowlers were toothless and much rather looked the part of someone sent on gardening leave. It was as if, resignation from their end was just a matter of time.
The way Ash Gardner utilised her craft against spin, dancing down twice in the death overs to Radha Yadav was brilliant. Brave. But only for the Aussies. Morbid for the hosts, who, we ought to remember, have fought their way back into this World Cup having been left hammered earlier on.
Now, it remains to be seen what becomes of the contest at the end of the forthcoming 50 overs. But Ash Gardner, no stranger to game changing knocks often in John Wick’s alter ego Ballerina mode, has played her part.
Or has she?