Gardner eyes promotion as batting shuffle looms

Allrounder Ashleigh Gardner believes she is ready to take on more responsibility with the bat if given the chance when Australia’s one-day international series against the West Indies begins in Antigua on Thursday.

A powerful batter who generally bats at No.3 in Australia’s T20I XI, Gardner’s talents have generally been put to use lower down the order in the one-day side at No.7, where she is often turned to for quick runs late in the innings.

But the absence of opener Nicole Bolton from this series – the Western Australian withdrew herself from the series to focus on her health – and the lack of a back-up specialist bat in the Australian squad will necessitate a reshuffle that will likely see Gardner at least move to No.6, if not higher.

"I’d love to (go higher) if I got the opportunity," Gardner said ahead of Australian training on Tuesday.

"Having Bolts not there, it opens that opening spot which Rachael Haynes could potentially (move into from the middle order) which could push other people up as well.

"If I got the opportunity to bat as high as possible, I know I’d try to take it with both hands."

Off-spinning allrounder Gardner was player of the match in last November’s T20 World Cup final played at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Ground, after taking 3-22 and striking an unbeaten 33 to see Australia across the line against England.

"When I think about the West Indies, I just think about the World Cup and the team performance," she said.

"It’s nice having those memories personally but the team comes first and it’s nice coming back here to a place where we’ve had really good success and hopefully we can create some more good memories."

Australia’s 14-player touring party were given a day off to recuperate following an intense day of intra-squad warm-ups on Sunday, with Gardner believing the group is now ready for the opening match of the series in two days’ time.

"It was nice just to be able to relax, I know a lot of the girls got up to not a lot, either in their room with the aircon or on the beach, which was really nice," she said.

"Everyone is still (adjusting), it’s been quite difficult for most of the group with a 36-hour flight coming from Australia.

"But it’s been really nice being back here.

"We’re really keen and ready to go, we’ve trained really hard coming off a successful Ashes series and coming here a few weeks later, we’re all ready to go come Thursday."

Australia’s first one-day international against the West Indies will be played at Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground on Thursday at 2pm local time (4am Friday AEST).

Fans in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea can stream the series live and free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App, while fans elsewhere can watch on the WICB YouTube channel.

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

September 5: First ODI, Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

September 8: Second ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

September 11: Third ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

Twenty20 Internationals

September 14: First T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 16: Second T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 18: Third T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados