Ashleigh Gardner, a prominent member of the Australian women's cricket team, has expressed her excitement for the upcoming ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup and shared her experiences of playing in front of large crowds in India. The inaugural edition of the U19 T20 World Cup will take place in South Africa in 2023 and will feature 16 teams playing a total of 41 matches at three different venues. Gardner, who missed out on the opportunity to play in a U19 World Cup herself, said she is looking forward to seeing the best young talent in the women's game showcase their skills.
Currently in the middle of a T20I tour of India, Gardner has had the opportunity to play in front of large crowds at the DY Patil Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium. The second match at the DY Patil Stadium saw an attendance of over 45,000 people, the highest ever for a women's cricket match in India. Gardner described playing in front of such crowds as "exciting," but also mentioned that it was challenging to get used to the noise levels of the Indian fans.
Since making her debut in 2017, Gardner has become an integral part of the Australian team, contributing to their victories in the T20 World Cup 2022, the Cricket World Cup 2022, and the Commonwealth Games 2022. In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Gardner is also motivated by the opportunity to be a role model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. She is an ambassador for Cricket Australia's Indigenous Engagement Program and hopes to leave a "profound impact" through her work off the field.
In addition to sharing her experiences and aspirations, Gardner also offered advice to young cricketers looking to make it to the top. She emphasized the importance of being true to oneself and not trying to change one's natural style of play. "Just be yourself and play the way you know how to play," she said. "That's the biggest thing I've learned, just to stay true to myself and play the way I know how to play." Gardner also stressed the importance of hard work, saying that she has always been a "big believer in putting in the hard yards." She added that it is important to embrace the challenges that come with being a professional athlete and to always look for ways to improve.