Australian cricket star ruled out after freak injury in warm-up

Ash Gardner was bizarrely ruled out of Australia’s first match of the international season after suffering a knock to the jaw when she collided with teammate Georgia Wareham in warm-ups for the opening Twenty20 game against New Zealand in Mackay.

Australian players were taking part in a warm-up game when Gardner and Wareham connected as they attempted to catch a vortex howler, leaving the explosive all-rounder stunned and required to take a concussion test. Wareham felt for her teeth after the nasty collision, while Gardner had tears in her eyes as she put her hand to her jaw.

She was subsequently ruled out of the game, adding to an Australian injury list that also features swing bowler Kim Garth and batter Grace Harris.

“Ash Gardner suffered a hit in the jaw as a result of a collision during the warm-up and is unavailable for tonight’s match,” a team spokesperson said.

Young star Phoebe Litchfield blasted her highest Twenty20 score to steer Australia to a five-wicket series-opening win against New Zealand in Mackay.

The talented left-hander crafted an unbeaten 64 from 43 balls, saving Australia from trouble when she arrived at the crease with the hosts reeling at 3-44.

Gardner was sent for a concussion test.Credit: Seven

But Litchfield batted flawlessly for the second T20 50 of her career to help inflict New Zealand with a record-equalling eighth straight T20 defeat.

After the three-match series against New Zealand, the Australians will travel to the UAE for the T20 World Cup.

Harris (calf) and Garth (knee) are expected to be available for the World Cup.

With AAP

Aussie trio in doubt for men’s ODI

Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are doubtful starters for Australia’s ODI opener against England, as illness threatens to seriously weaken the team turning out in Nottingham on Thursday night.

A virus that kept Mitchell Marsh out of the second Twenty20 against England in Cardiff and also affected his stand-in Travis Head has moved elsewhere through the squad, leaving Maxwell, Starc and Hazlewood in particular doubt, according to reports out of the UK.

“We’re still working through that, but we’ll have 11 on the park,” Marsh said when asked how many players were fit for the series opener.

“It’s certainly a busy schedule, and there will be times where we may have to manage guys through. Playing five games in 10 days is certainly a big ask, but we’ll manage that as best we can and make sure we’re fielding teams to win this series.”

This is how we do it: Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc celebrate a wicket.Credit: AP

Hazlewood missed the second T20 as part of his management plan for the autumn tour. The T20 series was tied 1-1 after rain washed out the decider in Manchester.

Josh Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who looked proppy after slipping over in the field in Cardiff, are also carrying niggles. Inglis’ quad trouble means Alex Carey is likely to play his first white-ball game for Australia since he was dropped early in the victorious 2023 World Cup campaign.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are set to return to Australian colours after their winter breaks, while Adam Zampa will play a meritorious 100th 50-over game for Australia as one of the world’s most respected white ball spinners.

One player almost certain not to play despite the illness and injury concerns is the 19-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman, who is still recovering from his long-haul journey to Nottingham from Perth.

“He’s a ripping young kid, he’s on standby at this point in time, but for a young kid he’s certainly got a lot of talent,” Marsh said of Beardman. “He showed that throughout the under-19 World Cup, and I think he’s going to learn a lot by being here over the next couple of weeks.

“I’ve certainly faced him in the nets a few times and we’ve seen over the history of Australian cricket, we’ve got a long list of guys who’ve been plucked I guess out of nowhere, but Mahli’s extremely talented, he bowls fast and I’m rapt to have him here.”

Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis (a reinforcement in place of the injured Nathan Ellis) and Aaron Hardie are all likely starters for Australia, alongside Cameron Green.

England will be led by the young Yorkshireman Harry Brook with Jos Buttler out injured, while Jofra Archer will play his first 50-over games in 18 months as part of a careful return to longer form cricket after a litany of injuries.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.