Australia ‘embracing’ off-field challenges during World Cup defence in India

There’s very little that superstar Australian allrounder Ash Gardner hasn’t achieved in world cricket.

At just 28, Gardner already has two Belinda Clark Medals, three T20 World Cups, an ODI World Cup, and even a Commonwealth Games gold medal to her name.

But if she and the current Aussie team were to lift another one-day World Cup in India next month, it could be the best of the lot.

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“I’ve obviously been really fortunate to be in a pretty good side,” Gardner told 7NEWS.com.au.

“I’ve won a few World Cups with this team, and I think if we were to get over the line for this one, this would probably rank up there with one of the best.

“There’s been so many challenges thrown our way, whether that’s the World Cup in itself, and then just things in India obviously poses different challenges off the field too.

“So making sure that we’ve stayed a tight-knit group, we’ve stayed really connected, and then just making sure that we’re enjoying this and trying to have as much fun as possible. So, yeah, this would probably rank up there with one of the best.”

Australia are undefeated in the tournament so far with four wins and a washout.

Gardner hit the ground running with a blistering 115 — her career-best score across all formats — in the first game against New Zealand.

Ash Gardner celebrates her ton in Australia’s World Cup opener with NZ at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Credit: AAP

On Wednesday night, they face England, who boast the exact same record as the Aussies and sit third on the table.

Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals, along with table-leaders South Africa — but Gardner says it’s been tougher than their win-loss column suggests, particularly off the field.

“Just things that don’t go your way; eating different foods they wouldn’t normally, just the weather in itself — it is pretty tough, simply just being away from from family and friends,” she said.

“India is very different to Australia, so it’s being able to embrace that, but then also understanding that it poses its challenges.

“Thankfully for me, I’ve got some family and my wife coming over the end of the tournament, so it’s a good time to refresh.”

Holders Australia have won three of the past five World Cups, to go with six of the past eight T20 World Cups, but the gap between Australia and the rest of the world has been closing steadily for a number of years now.

And yet, within this country, there is still an inherent expectation that our women’s team wins everything.

Gardner says inside the dressing room they are aware of it “to an extent”, but remain laser-focused on the job.

“I think if you read the news or you look at social media, of course there’s that expectation, that because we’ve had so much success, we should win,” she said.

“And just looking at the personnel within our side, people just expect that.

“We’re not robots, so we’re not always going to be amazing, and it’s probably the wider community understanding that, and people obviously do understand that.

“But that expectation hasn’t necessarily crept into this group. You know it’s always going to be there, but it’s almost like external pressure that we don’t let come into this group.

“We put enough pressure on ourselves, individually and then within our group to be the best people that we can and the best players for our for our teammates.

“So if you let that stuff creep in, it can probably have an effect. But I think what this group does so well is we stay in their own bubble and focus on ourselves.”

Australia’s clash with England begins live at 8.30pm AEDT on Prime Video’s free streaming coverage of the Women’s World Cup.