Having missed the final stages of WBBL|06 with concussion, Gardner is relishing the chance to play and dominate
Confident Gardner puts concussion drama behind her
Ashleigh Gardner says she is simply embracing the chance to be back in the middle after yet another summer that has been interrupted by concussion.
Gardner was the hero of Australia's six-wicket win in the opening T20I in Hamilton on Sunday, striding to the crease with her team 3-14 and smacking an unbeaten 73 to see the tourists home with two overs to spare.
The hard-hitting allrounder headed into the series off the back of good form in the domestic one-day competition, where she struck 256 runs at 65.4, including three half-centuries, in five innings for the NSW Breakers.
For Gardner, it has been a welcome return to normality after she missed the final five matches of the Sydney Sixers' Rebel WBBL campaign last November due to concussion, caused when she landed heavily while diving in the outfield.
It was Gardner's fifth concussion in the last four seasons, from a series of incidents either in matches or at training.
"It was really frustrating," Gardner said of missing a large chunk of WBBL|06.
"By the end I felt fine to play but there are so many protocols in and around concussions that you have to follow and the medical staff have to follow."
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Gardner missed two matches during the Rebel WBBL season in 2017-18 after being struck on the helmet by a bouncer from England and then-Scorchers quick Katherine Brunt.
A similar blow from the same bowler saw her miss an ODI during the 2017 Ashes, while she was also struck during an intra-squad match in September 2018 but recovered in time to take the field for the opening T20I against New Zealand in Sydney.
The 23-year-old also sat out a practice match in January last year after being struck on the back of the neck in the nets during a training session in Sydney.
"Concussion is something that's kept me out of a few games throughout my short career so far but it's been nice in the new year to play some grade cricket, spend some time in the middle there, then take that confidence into the Women's National Cricket League," Gardner continued.
"It's been a good start to the year."
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Gardner is making a habit of dominating the New Zealand attack, when they last met in Brisbane last September and October, the right-hander hit a 41-ball 61 in the opening T20I.
"I'm just enjoying playing cricket at the moment, to be honest," Gardner said when asked if she particularly enjoyed facing her trans-Tasman rivals.
"I've taken a lot of confidence out of my WNCL campaign and I was just trying to use that confidence going into this series and we've played these guys enough to know what their strengths are and their likely plans for us.
"Being able to spend time in the middle and use that confidence is key for me at the moment."
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Reflecting on the pressure of rescuing Australia from a perilous position at 3-14 needing 131 for victory, she said batting alongside captain Meg Lanning had helped her settle.
"Meg is such a calming influence and she was just telling me to stick to my strengths and I tried to do that for as long as possible," she said.
"Being in different conditions to home, the ball was sliding on and it was really hard to get up and under when they were bowling a really good length and they did that well tonight.
"They were consistent with the lengths they were hitting and made it hard enough for us to score the runs, but thankfully we got there in the end."
Australia will look to secure a series victory when the sides meet in the second T20I in Napier on Tuesday.