World News – AU – Gardner Submissive, intimidating WBBL concussion

Sydney Sixers star Ash Gardner has been substituted from her WBBL match against Adelaide Strikers due to suspected concussion.

Gardner was unable to strike during Sunday’s chase at Drummoyen Oval, having left the field in the eighth round of Adelaide innings after a field accident.

Gardner did not hit her head on the ground while diving in an attempt to stop the boundaries, but the effects of conflicting friction did lead to her off the field to be evaluated in line with Australian cricket concussion protocols.

Gardner, a proud Muruwari woman who was at the forefront of WBBL’s celebration of NAIDOC Week, has suffered multiple concussions throughout her career.

The talented part-time player, who has won several matches with a bat and a ball for Australia, met a neuropsychologist in 2018 after having had four concussions in 20 months.

“It was very difficult because she told me do you want to keep playing and things like that,” Gardner told AAP during this year’s 20th World Cup.

“I thought it was too silly to ask me that because I was only 21 years old at the time.

“I wanted to keep it up and reassured me that what I was doing was fine.

“Luckily, I didn’t have a lot of bad concussions, it was just small tremors that could equal a big one if I got hit in the wrong place.

Gardner’s latest fear of a concussion came in January when she hit a ball in the back of her neck while playing in the net, but the 23-year-old quickly returned after she was diagnosed with an injury..

Big Bash Women’s League, Sydney Sixers (WBBL), Cricket, Hobart Hurricanes Women, Adelaide Strikers (WBBL), Ashleigh Gardner, Rachel Priest, Ellyse Perry