At Home with Ashleigh Gardener: Cricketer reveals what her life is like off the pitch

Cricket world champion and proud Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner spends more than half the year on the road, but there is one thing she still hasn’t gotten used to.

At Home with Australian Cricketer Ashleigh Gardner and her ten favourite items. Picture: John Appleyard

Cricket world champion and proud Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner spends more than half the year on the road but is still to perfect the art of packing.

“I still overpack every time,” says Gardner, who recently returned from playing with the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League in India.

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Nor has the cricket sensation found a way to make short-term accommodation feel like home, despite having stayed at some of the world’s finest hotels.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a really cool thing to travel the world and play sport, even if you have to live out of a suitcase,” Gardner says.

“But hotels are never the same (as home). It’s just a place to sleep, basically. (Being away) can certainly be tough at times and I guess you just have to look at it as one of the requirements of the job. But you never really feel (the places you stay) are home.

Ashleigh on her back veranda with her favourite coffee mug. Picture: John Appleyard

“I don’t take photos away with me or anything like that so there’s nothing even to remind you of home. The only thing I literally take with me is my pillow because it’s so comfortable.”

Now in cricket’s off-season, Gardner is looking forward to relaxing with family and friends – including a holiday with partner Monica in Bali – and, at home, spending time at the beach and local coffee haunts.
“I always enjoy walking down the street and grabbing a coffee,” she says. “Coming home is always an absolute breath of fresh air.”

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Who: Ashleigh Gardner

Where: A little two-bedroom apartment in Cronulla (Sydney). My partner Mon (Monica Wright) and I moved here around July last year. There’s no pets, unfortunately – I would absolutely love to get a dog one day.

Favourite space The loungeroom. I feel like that’s where you can be the most sociable with people. We’ve decked it out in calm colours and we spend a lot of time there.

Home is normality. Going to countries around the world, you see so many differences to how things are in Australia, so when I come home, I feel like I can sit on the couch and feel normal again.

ASHLEIGH GARDNER’S FAVOURITE THINGS

BAGGY GREEN CAP

Ashleigh's Baggy Green cap. Picture: John Appleyard

(Last year) was the first time cricket had been played in the Commonwealth Games for women and to go over there and win gold with my team was pretty special. I had to include my baggy green (cap) – it’s something all cricketers aspire to achieve.

TURNTABLE

Gardner’s turntable. Picture: John Appleyard

It’s really nice to have music in the house. I’ve wanted a record player for ages – I just love the look of them and it just takes you back to the old days of putting records on.

PLANTS

Picture: John Appleyard

If you ever walk into our house, you’ll see at least 12 plants inside. It keeps the place nice and green, and it purifies the home. I wouldn’t say I’m a green thumb … actually, I can’t really say I look after them – I’m more likely to kill them. (Caring for them) is pretty much left to Mon.

QUILT

Quilt with design by Ashleigh for the Ngunandhira Range. Picture: John Appleyard

To cut a long story short, when I was doing heaps of artworks, I randomly got an offer to do my own bed linen range. I’m currently on my second range, which is sold in Harvey Norman. (It features) all Aboriginal artworks. This is the one that I have on my own bed. It’s pretty cool to have your own bed linen.

ART

Artwork by Ashleigh. Picture: John Appleyard

I do a little bit of art here and there. This one is the story of me and my partner, and our families and our journey to come together. The two circles on the edges of the artwork represent us and our own (individual) journeys. The middle circle is us together as a unit.

COFFEE MUG

Plant themed coffee mug. Picture: John Appleyard

This is my favourite mug. I really love to drink coffee. I recently borrowed one of my friends’ home presses and I bought some beans from my local cafe to make coffee at home. But I also love the social aspect of going to the cafe and buying a coffee and then bringing it home to drink.

BARBECUE

Picture: John Appleyard

We use the barbecue in the backyard when we have people over for what is hopefully a nice meal.
We have a Weber, I think it cooks steaks immaculately – unless it’s just my great cooking skills. I’m a bit of a steak snob, actually, and I only ever get
rib-eye steaks. It’s generally cooked medium. On the Weber, it’s pretty much six minutes each side on low.

FRAMED PHOTO

Photo with partner Monica. Picture: John Appleyard

This photo of me and my partner was taken on my birthday last year. We went with some friends to the Glenmore Hotel, (which) overlooks Sydney Harbour.

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Originally published as At Home with Ashleigh Gardener: Cricketer reveals what her life is like off the pitch