Ashleigh Gardner's life took a dramatic turn during a FaceTime call with her mother while she was in Gqeberha for the T20 World Cup. Watching the bids for her lot at the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction, the numbers climbed to an astonishing INR 3.2 crore. Her brother showed her a calculator app, confirming this meant A$558,000 for three weeks' work, making it the joint second-highest contract in the WPL.
Reflecting on her journey, Gardner remembered signing her first state contract for just A$3,000 as a teenager. The massive WPL contract marked a significant change in women's cricket, comparable to the pressure male cricketers have faced since the IPL's inception in 2008. Gardner told that it was surreal and something she never imagined for her career, illustrating the surge of interest and investment in women's cricket over the past decade.
Despite the lucrative contract, Gardner admitted struggling with the expectations that came with being Gujarat Giants' highest earner. Her performance in the WPL's first two editions was solid but not spectacular, with two half-centuries, a strike rate of 128.57, and 17 wickets in 16 innings. The franchise finished at the bottom in both seasons. Gardner felt the pressure of living up to the price tag, although she acknowledged that it was out of her control and she tried to focus on performing her best for the team.
Gardner is currently playing in The Hundred for the first time, wearing Trent Rockets' yellow training kit. She was their top pick at the draft, with a contract worth £50,000—a significant increase from previous years, attracting top Australian players. The Hundred fits well into their schedule this year, with no games for Australia since their tour of Bangladesh four months ago, making it an ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup starting in October.
Part of the appeal for Gardner was playing at England's top venues in front of large crowds. Last weekend, the women's Hundred saw its total attendance surpass one million over four seasons. Returning to Trent Bridge, where she took an eight-wicket haul in last summer's Ashes Test, was particularly exciting for her. Gardner praised the success of the competition and noted how it could serve as a model for the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.
Gardner, who has played for Sydney Sixers since the WBBL began, mentioned the potential benefits of scheduling WBBL matches as double-headers with the men's games, similar to The Hundred. This change could boost crowd engagement and grow the brand, although opinions on this are divided.
For now, Gardner's focus is on helping the Rockets recover from a slow start and reach The Hundred's knockout stages. She aims to balance being a good teammate with her personal goal of performing well ahead of the World Cup. With consistent processes, Gardner is confident of achieving success for both herself and the Australian team in the upcoming tournament.