Ashleigh Gardner's Concussion Scare

Ashleigh Gardner has been cleared of any concussion concerns following her unusual collision with Georgia Wareham ahead of Australia's T20I match against New Zealand.

Gardner had to sit out Australia's series opener in Mackay on Thursday night after she and Wareham accidentally knocked heads during a pre-game warm-up. Fortunately, Wareham, too, has shown no signs of a concussion and was able to contribute to Australia’s five-wicket victory.

Initially, Gardner shrugged off the incident with a laugh but became emotional as she left the field in tears. The 27-year-old has faced multiple concussions in her career, tallying seven, which led her to consult a neuropsychologist in 2018 after enduring four concussions in just 20 months.

Saturday's update comes as a great relief for Gardner, as both she and Wareham are now in contention to play in the second T20 against New Zealand in Mackay on Sunday.

However, Australia is also managing additional injury setbacks leading up to next month's World Cup in the UAE. Both Grace Harris (calf) and Kim Garth (knee) are unavailable for the current series against New Zealand.

Beth Mooney, who will play her 100th T20I in the second match, expressed that while the first game went well, there’s room for improvement. She shared that Australia is aiming to refine all aspects of their game, from getting off to a stronger batting start to tightening up their bowling strategy. Mooney acknowledged New Zealand's score of 140, suggesting the Kiwis might have fallen short but would likely bring more intensity in the upcoming match.

Reflecting on her upcoming milestone, Mooney, who delivered an unforgettable 125 not out against India at the same venue in 2021, shared her excitement. She noted that playing even one game for Australia felt special, and reaching 100 caps was a significant and unexpected achievement in her career.

New Zealand, meanwhile, is missing their key player Sophie Devine, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. Her absence is part of a cautious approach to ensure her fitness for the upcoming T20 World Cup.