Ashleigh Gardner has been cleared of concussion after a bizarre collision with Georgia Wareham during a warm-up game ahead of Australia’s T20I series against New Zealand. Gardner missed the series opener in Mackay on Thursday night due to the incident, which saw her and Wareham clash heads.
Wareham has also been cleared of any concussion symptoms and played in Australia’s five-wicket win. Gardner, the reigning Belinda Clark Medallist, initially laughed off the incident but later left the ground in tears. The 27-year-old has a history of concussions, having suffered seven throughout her professional career.
The issue prompted Gardner to consult a neuropsychologist in 2018 after suffering four concussions in the space of 20 months. Saturday’s news will therefore come as a welcome relief to Gardner, who is now expected to play in the second T20 against New Zealand in Mackay on Sunday.
Australia also have other injury concerns ahead of next month’s World Cup in the UAE, with Grace Harris (calf) and Kim Garth (knee) both missing the New Zealand series. Beth Mooney, who will play her 100th T20I in the second match of the series, said Australia would be looking to improve their performance.
“It was a good game for us, not a great one,” Mooney said. “So we’re looking to sharpen up every facet of the game, maybe getting off to a bit of a better start with the bat in terms of wickets lost, and then with the ball, maybe tidying up a few different areas there.”
New Zealand were without Sophie Devine for the first game of the series as she continues to recover from an ankle injury. The Black Caps will be taking a cautious approach with Devine ahead of the T20 World Cup.
