All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner suffered an unfortunate concussion ahead of the first T20I between Australia Women and New Zealand Women when she accidentally collided with Georgia Wareham during the warm-up session.
At first glance, it looked like a brutal clash was going to happen as both the players collided. Wareham was getting her teeth and jaw checked but after a while she seemed to be fine. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Gardner was in a lot more pain as her head collided and she was not looking good for the first T20I. As a result, Ashleigh Gardner was ruled out of the first T20I due to concussion protocols.
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Watch – Ashleigh Gardner brutally collides with Georgia Wareham and suffers a concussion
Ash Gardner is out due to concussion protocols…
After this clash of heads with Georgia Wareham in a preparation match 😮#AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/fN9tNWiJoc
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) September 19, 2024
In the video, it is clearly seen that both cricketers collided as neither of them looked into each other’s eyes. Georgia Wareham was wearing an orange uniform, while Ashleigh Gardner was wearing a blue training shirt. Ashleigh Gardner fell to the ground after colliding with her teammate.
Both players were contacted by the other Australian players when Ashleigh Gardner left the field. She was subsequently ruled out of the first T20I at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay. Australia will be hoping to be fully fit ahead of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup next month.
Australia and New Zealand prepare for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup
Australia and New Zealand will play a three-match T20I series. The first two T20Is will be played in Mackay, while the final match will be played at Allan Border Field, Brisbane. The series is seen as a preparation for both teams for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Australia are the reigning champions and also the most successful team in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup with 6 titles under their belt. They have been a very dominant team in women’s cricket for a few years now and will be aiming for their seventh title next month under the guidance of Alyssa Healy.
It will be interesting to see how they perform under the leadership of Alyssa Healy, who will lead the team for the first time in an ICC tournament. Meg Lanning retired from international cricket after leading Australia to glory at the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Australian women are currently facing the New Zealand women in the first T20I. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 143-7 in 20 overs under captain Suzie Bates and Maddie Green.
Bates scored 33 off 27 balls to open the innings while Green top-scored with 35 off 33 balls. Bates is leading New Zealand in this series in the absence of regular captain Sophie Devine. New Zealand women are on a seven-match losing streak and will be looking to end their run here.