Auckland, Mar 22 (UNI) Australia key all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has been ruled out of the remainder of the New Zealand tour after scans confirmed she fractured her right index finger during the first T20I on Friday here, Cricket Australia announced.
Gardner left the field in the 17th over after injuring herself while attempting a return catch off her own bowling, with Sophie Devine striking the ball powerfully back at her. Australia’s dominant top-order performance meant she was not required to bat in the chase.
She will now undergo further scans and seek specialist advice upon her return to Sydney.
In Gardner’s absence, uncapped all-rounder Charli Knott has earned her maiden international call-up ahead of the second T20I on March 23.
The 22-year-old from Queensland has been rewarded for her strong domestic form, having amassed 542 runs and claimed 12 wickets in the 2024–25 Women’s National Cricket League season. She carried that momentum into the 10th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, where she scored 187 runs and took six wickets for Brisbane Heat, an ICC report said.
Australia’s updated T20 squad: Tahlia McGrath (c), Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Charli Knott, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
Australia made light work of New Zealand’s 137/2 in the first T20I, cruising to victory in just 13.3 overs. Melie Kerr anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 46 balls, while former captain Sophie Devine contributed 39, though the pair struggled to accelerate during the middle overs.
In contrast, Australia’s chase was relentless, with openers Beth Mooney (75*) and Georgia Voll (50) forged a dominant 123-run partnership off just 66 balls to seal a convincing win and put the hosts 1-0 up in the series.
