Ashleigh Gardner is widely regarded as one of the top all-rounders in world cricket, and we are fortunate to call her a Giant for the past two Women’s Premier League (WPL) seasons.

Gardner’s cricketing journey made headlines when she topped the run charts at Cricket Australia’s Under-18 Championships in January 2015. Leading New South Wales to the title, she was rightly awarded Player of the Championship. That year, she also shone in the Imparja Cup, earning the Player of the Tournament title. These early accomplishments paved the way for her selection into Australia’s development squad, the Shooting Stars. Her standout performances led to her international call-up, making her the fourth Indigenous player to represent Australia in international cricket, after Faith Thomas, Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland.

Her early days in international cricket, however, were not without challenges. Gardner didn’t have a strong start in her T20I career and scored just 12 runs in her ODI debut in March 2017. But she soon found her rhythm, making a statement in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) with a blistering 52-ball 114 for the Sydney Sixers. Just before the 2020 T20 World Cup, she impressed once again, smashing 93 runs from 57 balls in a tri-series match against India, solidifying her status as a match-winner.

Gardner made her Test debut in 2019 against England, where she took a wicket. Her real Test breakthrough came during the 2023 Ashes, where she recorded a remarkable 12-wicket haul at Trent Bridge, the best-ever Test figures by an Australian woman. Her consistency in all formats has made her a key figure in Australia’s cricket dominance.

Gardner’s influence was also instrumental in Australia’s 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medal victory. In the opening match against India, she scored a crucial fifty and later took three wickets in the final to help Australia secure the title. At the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa, she was named Player of the Tournament for her all-round brilliance, scoring 110 runs and taking 10 wickets. In the final, she contributed 29 runs off 21 balls and bowled economically, playing a key role in Australia’s triumph.

Off the field, Gardner is a strong advocate for First Nations people and their culture. In 2020, she launched the Ashleigh Gardner Foundation, which focuses on providing support to Aboriginal children, ensuring they have a healthy start to their school day.

In the WPL 2023 auction, the Gujarat Giants signed Gardner for 3.2 crore, making her the joint-second most expensive player in the league. During her first season, she scored 204 runs and took 10 wickets. In her second season, Gardner contributed 120 runs and claimed 7 wickets, continuing to be a valuable asset for the Giants both with bat and ball.