New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Ashleigh Gardner expressed her disappointment after not being selected for the Australia captaincy, emphasizing her deep care for the team while affirming her strong ambition to lead. The all-rounder was anticipated to succeed Alyssa Healy following her retirement last month, but in a surprising turn, Cricket Australia appointed Sophie Molineux instead. Gardner will serve as a joint vice-captain alongside Tahlia McGrath, who has already captained the team on 15 occasions.

Before the series against India, Gardner admitted that the decision was painful, primarily due to her unwavering commitment to the team.

“You develop a defense mechanism to avoid feeling too disappointed if things don't go your way,” Gardner told ESPNcricinfo. “So, for me, it was about being okay with either outcome. When I learned I didn’t get the role, there was definitely a feeling of disappointment.

“It's because I deeply care about this team and I find myself thinking about how I can influence it in my own way. But when I discovered that Sophie had been chosen, I was genuinely thrilled for her. She’s a remarkable individual, and the respect she commands from her peers speaks volumes about her character and leadership abilities.”

Despite this setback, the 28-year-old Gardner remains undeterred in her aspirations. Currently at the helm of the Sydney Sixers and a former captain of Gujarat Giants in the WPL, she expressed her willingness to embrace the captaincy if given the opportunity again.

“If they ever see me fit for that role, I’d absolutely embrace it,” she stated. “I cherish being part of this team and the bonds within it. For me, it’s about maintaining the perspective that having a 'C' next to your name is great, but there are numerous ways to lead. I have strived to take initiative over the past few years, and I will continue to do so, whether officially recognized or not. So, if that opportunity arises, I’d welcome it.”

Gardner also noted the unexpected circumstances surrounding the announcement.

“It’s probably a conversation we should have,” she shared. “The other two received the news while they were in Australia, while I was on a golf course in India. So, processing that news meant focusing on how to improve and how I can support Soph and T-Mac moving forward.

“It’s critical to keep these discussions going to make the best use of our diverse strengths. Supporting Soph in her role is important, and as for T-Mac and me, we need to be diligent and transparent regarding our leadership dynamic and the team’s direction.”

Beyond captaincy, Australia is confronting an unprecedented situation. For the first time since 2017, their ICC trophy cabinet stands empty following semi-final exits in both the ODI and T20 World Cups, despite remaining unbeaten during the group stages.

“I still believe there’s a significant opportunity to analyze what went wrong and the moments when we fell short,” Gardner remarked. “In bilateral series, we can establish a solid approach to tackle challenges. However, during a World Cup, you only face teams once or twice.”

“We need to explore where we lost matches and identify strategies for improvement, whether that involves mindset or managing pressure better.”

“Reflecting on the World Cup as a whole, we managed to recover from adverse situations. In the game against Pakistan, we found ourselves at 7 for 70 [76], and Beth Mooney delivered an extraordinary performance.

“So many facets of that World Cup tested our resilience, and while we found ways to succeed, we couldn’t do so against India in the semi-final. It’s essential to evaluate the entire tournament, not just the semi-final loss. Over the past 18 months, we’ve only lost two matches, both of which were crucial.”