Ash Gardner reveals the struggles she faced after being sold for$550k at Women’s Premier League auction

Ash Gardner’s life-changing Women’s Premier League deal changed the parameters of how she is assessed. Now, the Aussie star says she’s cracked the code of overcoming the pressure.

Ash Gardner will feature for Australia in the women’s Ashes later this month.

Ash Gardner believes she has cracked the code of what is now her greatest challenge: performing when the pressure of being cricket’s highest paid female trails her every move.

The Australian superstar’s life changed forever when she was sold for $558,000 at the inaugural Women’s Premier League auction.

But becoming the first woman to earn half a million dollars for three weeks’ work also instantly changed the parameters of how her performances are measured.

The Gujarat Giants who bought Gardner crashed to just two wins from their eight matches and collected the wooden spoon – with the 26-year-old unable to lift the titanic despite solid returns with bat and ball.

Gardner admits she struggled to get her head around the intensity of the spotlight her pay packet brought her – but she is attacking the upcoming women’s Ashes tour with a renewed mindset.

“From an off-field perspective and being sold at a certain price, there’s always this expectation that you’re supposed to be amazing,” Gardner said.

Ash Gardner was sold for a record price at the IPL this year

“And I guess the thing that was so frustrating for me was I felt like I was letting my team down because they bought me for a certain price.

“But I had to look at it as if I had no choice in what they wanted me for, so it was trying to take that out of it, and I guess try and take the emotion and ego out of it and just get on with the job.

“Understanding I’m just a cricketer and I had no control over how that (auction bidding) panned out.

“Once I got into a better mind space, I actually ended up finishing the tournament pretty well from an individual point of view.

“There was plenty of learnings to take out of that as a team player, but also as an individual – with plenty to work on for my own game.”

ASTRONOMICAL MONEY AND INSANE PRESSURE

Countless examples exist across all sports – mainly male sports – of million dollar stars struggling with the expectation that comes with being the No.1 pick.

This intensity is compounded when you’re talking about the fishbowl of being a million-dollar or multimillion-dollar star in India.

The money is astronomical, but so are the expectations and it took Cameron Green several weeks of this year’s men’s IPL to hit his groove as a $3.15 million marquee.

This subliminal pressure is going to become a new phenomenon in women’s cricket as the game continues to take off financially, and Gardner’s career will be a fascinating journey from this life-altering moment on.

Gardner is undaunted as she looks to lead an Australian side into battle against England for the Ashes – with the responsibilities on her shoulders only increased by the undisclosed illness that has ruled out captain, Meg Lanning.

“Exactly right and there’s only going to be more money and more opportunities for female cricketers and it’s exciting to be involved in the game,” Gardner said.

Gardner says she learned an incredible amount about how to handle pressure while in India

“I’ve come into the game at a professional level at a really good time and that credit goes to all the people that have played before me.

“But the game is changing so quickly and it’s evolving into something pretty extraordinary that people want to come and watch, and people want to sit down on the couch and tune into our games, which I guess as cricketers that’s what we want to do.

“We want to make sure we’re entertaining. That we’re getting people to the grounds to witness what we’re doing but also being relatable off the field and making sure you have time for the fans and you’re making sure to still try and inspire young kids who come and watch you.

“That is the most important thing at the end of the day.”

HOW TO TACKLE ENGLAND

Australia has become an unstoppable force across all formats of women’s cricket since lifting the T20 World Cup trophy at the MCG in front of 86,000 in 2020.

But Ashes tours of England are never easy and losing the world’s most reliable batter and leader, Lanning on the eve of the trip has certainly thrown a spanner into the works.

Gardner admits she doesn’t necessarily love the hostility of an Ashes series in the UK, but said Australia’s era of success has done nothing to dim their hunger to bury the old enemy.

The all-round superstar believes the Aussies do have England’s number provided they bring their A game.

“Everyone is super pumped about the Test match and just the Ashes in general. We always know it’s a fierce competition, both us and England, who both probably hate each other on the field,” Gardner said.

“But we know we match up really well against these guys and when we play our best cricket, we know that we can win against them as well.

“It’s just about believing in each other and taking that confidence in the success we’ve had over the last couple of years into what’s quite a big series against these guys.

“Starting off on the right foot is always important in these types of series.

“I’m certainly looking forward to it.

“I’m not looking forward to the hostility that’s no doubt going to be there in England. But I guess that just adds to the drama of what the Ashes is.

“The men are over there at the same time and it’s a fantastic time to be over there playing in England … hopefully we walk away with the Ashes.”

Originally published as Ash Gardner reveals the struggles she faced after being sold for$550k at Women’s Premier League auction