{"id":231198,"date":"2025-10-22T00:51:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T00:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/231198\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T00:51:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T00:51:14","slug":"australia-embracing-off-field-challenges-during-world-cup-defence-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/231198\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia \u2018embracing\u2019 off-field challenges during World Cup defence in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s very little that superstar Australian<\/a> allrounder Ash Gardner hasn\u2019t achieved in world cricket<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve obviously been really fortunate to be in a pretty good side,\u201d Gardner told 7NEWS.com.au.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been so many challenges thrown our way, whether that\u2019s the World Cup in itself, and then just things in India obviously poses different challenges off the field too.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo making sure that we\u2019ve stayed a tight-knit group, we\u2019ve stayed really connected, and then just making sure that we\u2019re enjoying this and trying to have as much fun as possible. So, yeah, this would probably rank up there with one of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australia are undefeated in the tournament so far with four wins and a washout.<\/p>\n

Gardner hit the ground running with a blistering 115 \u2014 her career-best score across all formats \u2014 in the first game against New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\"AshAsh Gardner celebrates her ton in Australia’s World Cup opener with NZ at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

On Wednesday night, they face England, who boast the exact same record as the Aussies and sit third on the table.<\/p>\n

Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals, along with table-leaders South Africa \u2014 but Gardner says it\u2019s been tougher than their win-loss column suggests, particularly off the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust things that don\u2019t go your way; eating different foods they wouldn\u2019t normally, just the weather in itself \u2014 it is pretty tough, simply just being away from from family and friends,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndia is very different to Australia, so it\u2019s being able to embrace that, but then also understanding that it poses its challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully for me, I\u2019ve got some family and my wife coming over the end of the tournament, so it\u2019s a good time to refresh.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And yet, within this country, there is still an inherent expectation that our women\u2019s team wins everything.<\/p>\n

Gardner says inside the dressing room they are aware of it \u201cto an extent\u201d, but remain laser-focused on the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if you read the news or you look at social media, of course there\u2019s that expectation, that because we\u2019ve had so much success, we should win,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just looking at the personnel within our side, people just expect that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not robots, so we\u2019re not always going to be amazing, and it\u2019s probably the wider community understanding that, and people obviously do understand that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that expectation hasn\u2019t necessarily crept into this group. You know it\u2019s always going to be there, but it\u2019s almost like external pressure that we don\u2019t let come into this group.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s clash with England begins live at 8.30pm AEDT on Prime Video\u2019s free streaming coverage of the Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pat Cummins given \u2018no chance\u2019 in grim Ashes forecast<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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Australia dealt crushing blow ahead of World Cup blockbuster<\/p>\n

1 min read<\/p>\n

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