Out of isolation and into the spotlight, Gardner's star turn

Ashleigh Gardner cannot repeat the exact words she uttered when she saw the dreaded second line appear on her rapid antigen test just three days out from the start of Australia's World Cup campaign.

The allrounder missed Australia's opening wins against England and Pakistan but made up for lost time in Sunday's showdown against New Zealand despite still battling the lingering effects of her COVID-19 infection, belting an unbeaten 48 from 18 balls and taking two wickets in a thumping win over the hosts.

"I sent a photo (of the test) to the doctor and said, 'I've got some bad news'," Gardner told reporters after Australia wrapped up a 141-run victory in Wellington.

"I had to do a second RAT and that line came up even more clear.

"There were a lot of emotions over that first half an hour, knowing I would miss two or three games.

"I'm not a good watcher of my side playing cricket, that first game against England was really hard to watch.

"But I just had to try and stay as positive as possible ... at times I was certainly getting over it.

"But coming out today and getting a win with my team, it was a good time to reset in some regards."

Gardner went into Sunday's game having spent the previous 10 days in a Christchurch hotel room – her release coming on the same day New Zealand reduced its isolation period to seven days – and only had one training session with her teammates on Saturday afternoon before her international return.

Fortunately, the foundation laid by a 101-run stand between Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath, and Australia’s dominant performance with the ball ensured Gardner’s endurance was not properly put to the test.

A whirlwind innings saw her smash four sixes and as many fours in her 18-ball unbeaten 48 that began in the 46th over, and she was then on the field for the 30.2 overs it took Australia to bowl New Zealand out for 128, with the off-spinner sending down 3.2 of those.

"I was pretty lucky really, my first symptom was just having a sore throat," Gardner revealed.

"Then I just had a consistent headache probably for about a week, then for the (last three days) of the isolation period I felt back to normal.

"Today was always going to be a test, early on I was getting a little puffed running on the boundary.

"The main thing out of the game was I just felt like I had a really heavy chest at points, which was quite a weird feeling, but other than that I'm feeling pretty good."

After performing – in her own words – "pretty badly" in her sole training session on Saturday, Gardner was encouraged by coach Matthew Mott to instead focus on her form prior to her diagnosis for a confidence boost.

Fortunately, Gardner did not have to look back far for a reminder of her potential against New Zealand, having hit 60 off 32 balls against the White Ferns just one day prior to her positive result.

"The platform the girls set for me was really good and I just had that freedom to play the natural game I play and take the bowlers on ... it was one of those innings that sometimes comes off and sometimes doesn't," Gardner said.

Australia will remain in Wellington for their next match, against West Indies at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday.

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, Amanda-Jade Wellington Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

New Zealand XI: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Amy Satterthwaite, Maddy Green, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports