Overview:
Ashleigh Gardner feels that Australia’s experience in home conditions could prove a key factor as the series unfolds.
Ashleigh Gardner has dismissed suggestions of Australia’s decline, backing the side to reclaim their place at the top of the women’s game. She insisted the reigning standards remain unchanged, regardless of the team relinquishing both World Cup trophies.
India Women will return to Australia as reigning 50-over world champions for a multi-format series that includes three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test. The upcoming clash will be their first against Australia Women since their dramatic semi-final win at the recent World Cup.
Australia’s early exits in recent tournaments have brought rare external scrutiny, but Ashleigh Gardner insisted the squad’s internal confidence remains intact.
“We’ve definitely found ourselves under pressure in recent times.Even so, I’m still comfortable saying with confidence that we remain the best side in the world,” she said to cricket.com.au
Fresh from a strong World Cup showing, India arrive with clear momentum, a factor Ashleigh Gardner readily acknowledged.”India’s going to come across with a lot of confidence, as they should. They’ve obviously played some really good cricket recently,” she said. She cited the closely fought ODI series leading into the World Cup and India’s semi-final victory as clear indicators of the stiff test that awaits.
Ashleigh Gardner feels that Australia’s experience in home conditions could prove a key factor as the series unfolds. “They’re also coming over to our conditions, which we know better than them. If they do challenge us, we know what to do in those moments as well,” she said