Ashleigh Gardner exclusive T20 World Cup column: We’re favourites, yes, but all teams start on zero points
In her first exclusive column of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Aussie allrounder Ashleigh Gardner talks pressure of being favourites, the need to start strong and why having fun is vital for performance.
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A women’s World Cup on home soil: we haven’t had one of those since 2009. So to say we’re excited is an understatement.
I was part of our winning 2018 T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies, but a World Cup at home is on a whole new level.
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There’s been lots of talk about the expectation and pressure on us to win at home, but front of mind for us is that every team in the competition is on a level playing field.
Sure, we might have won the previous trophy, but that doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to get to the semis and then into the final on March 8 this time around.
Every team starts the tournament on the same number of points – zero – and from there, it’s all about playing the best cricket at the right time.
This is why our first game against India in Sydney on Friday is going to be our biggest game, to set our standard and how we want to play throughout the tournament. If we can get off on the right foot straight away that will put us in good stead.
We’ve played India three times in our recent Tri-Series, and that’s been great preparation tactically because we’ve obviously thought of our plans and ideas for each of their players.
However this team is stacked with some of the world’s most exciting cricketers: future superstars of the game in opener Shafali Verma and allrounder Jemimah Rodrigues and then their experienced campaigners Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. They will be tough competition.
Leading into the World Cup, there are always going to be mixed emotions.
Feeling excited is always the best part, but what comes with that are the nerves and you’re always going to be anxious because World Cups are a really big deal.
Our coach, Matthew Mott, always reiterates the message of having fun.
We always talk about that when we’re smiling and really enjoying our cricket that’s probably when we’re playing our best and I know that’s something I try to do personally: not be too hard on myself, which can be easier-said-than-done because when you’re over-thinking things and being too critical of yourself, that’s probably when things aren’t going the way you’d like.
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So, I will just try to enjoy every moment of this tournament and something I won’t ever take for granted is the amazing opportunity I have to represent Australia.
Throughout this World Cup, I will be writing columns that will give special insight into our team and discussing some of the tournament’s biggest issues and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you.
Go Aussie!