New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) Australia’s vice-captain, Ashleigh Gardner, is embracing the fearless mentality that characterized her early career as her team gears up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England. The versatile player is focused on regaining her peak performance ahead of this prestigious tournament, while also achieving a personal milestone of 100 T20 Internationals.

Gardner is set to become the seventh Australian woman to reach the 100 mark in T20Is when her team competes against the West Indies in St Vincent. This milestone arrives at a pivotal moment for Australia, who is determined to overcome recent disappointments in semi-finals, specifically the loss to hosts India in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and a similar defeat against South Africa in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.

“I used to play without fear, but as I have matured, I have developed more apprehension in how I approach both life and cricket,” Gardner shared with Cricket Australia.

“I aim to harness that fearless approach while avoiding recklessness. The style of cricket I play involves taking risks, and when I’m under pressure, I strive to channel that mindset. That’s when I perform at my best,” she explained.

The 28-year-old recognized the difficulty of translating her impressive ODI performances—three centuries and three fifties at an average of 45.94 since early 2024—into the fast-paced T20 format.

“My role in the middle order can be challenging in this format; I may come in when the team is doing well or struggling. It’s essential to quickly assess the situation and adjust my play, which is something I haven't consistently done well in T20s,” Gardner noted.

She has maintained a T20I average of 25.11 while playing in the middle order for Australia.

Gardner views the upcoming West Indies series as a crucial preparation for the World Cup, drawing parallels to the team’s evolution following the 2017 World Cup.

“Reflecting on the 2017 World Cup loss, we played timidly. We then transitioned to a more fearless approach, which we have embraced ever since. It’s almost an unwritten rule that new players adopt this style,” she remarked.

Now serving as co-vice-captain alongside Tahlia McGrath under new captain Sophie Molineux, Gardner emphasized that the team’s faith in its current lineup is vital for their World Cup aspirations.

“I believe in the capability of our current roster to secure trophies. Sophie has already made an impact during the Indian series, and I am excited to see how she will lead the team moving forward,” she concluded.