Gardner hits $558,000 jackpot at inaugural WPL auction

Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner secured the joint second-highest deal of $558,000 at the inaugural Women’s Premier League auction.

The No.1 Twenty20 all-rounder in women’s cricket was bought by the Adani Group-owned Gujarat Giants, the last of three franchises to join a bidding war for the 25-year-old during the auction on Monday afternoon (Tuesday AEDT) in Mumbai. The inaugural WPL will run from March 4-26.

With Giants head coach Rachael Haynes at the auction table at the Jio World Convention Centre, the imprint of the former Australia captain on the side is unmistakable.

Gardner watched the auction on her phone, alongside Australia teammates Megan Schutt and Kim Garth, from the sidelines of her team’s afternoon training session at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, before their T20 World Cup fixture against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

“Ashleigh’s such a great all-rounder,” Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke said after the team’s practice session. “She delivers in three skills. She’s been really important for us over the last 12 months to two years, and even beyond that.

“But I think what we’re finding in recent times is she’s really coming into her game and maturing as a cricketer. So she plays a key role for us.

Ashleigh Gardner was bought for $558,000 at the WPL auction.Credit: Getty Images

“It was fantastic to see her perform with the ball and her career-best figures against New Zealand. I’m looking forward to seeing what the tournament brings for her.”

Gardner, who returned an international career-best 5-12 in Australia’s opening fixture at the T20 World Cup against New Zealand, had a reserve price of $87,000.

She was the fifth player from the seven-member “Set 1” to go under the hammer. She was preceded by India’s Smriti Mandhana, the first and most expensive player to be sold on the day at $593,000, and Harmanpreet Kaur, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and the unsold Hayley Matthews.

England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt was snapped up at the same price as Gardner by Mumbai. They also bought Heather Graham, who picked up a hat-trick in Mumbai two months ago, for $52,000 towards the close of the auction, which lasted almost six hours.

Ellyse Perry was the second Australian to be bought. Royal Challengers Bangalore paid $297,000 for the star all-rounder. Beth Mooney ($350,000 for Gujarat) later surpassed her as the second-most expensive Australian buy.

No.1-ranked T20I batter Tahlia McGrath ($245,000 – UP Warriorz), Australia captain Meg Lanning ($192,000 – Delhi Capitals), vice captain Alyssa Healy ($122,000 – UP), and all-rounder Annabel Sutherland ($122,000 – Gujarat) also picked up impressive bids.

Medium-pacer Megan Schutt and wrist-spinner Alana King were the first two Australians to go unsold. However, when Schutt went under the hammer for a second time, Bangalore, who hired Sydney Sixers head coach Ben Sawyer in the same role, secured her at her base price of $70,000.

They also made the winning bid for Erin Burns, who isn’t part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, for $52,000.

Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen was bought by Delhi for $87,000 at the second time of asking. King’s name also came up twice, but she found no takers.

Garth and Tess Flintoff were the other Australians on the final auction list who went unsold. Gujarat outbid Bangalore to secure the services of leg-spinner Georgia Wareham for $131,000. The coveted Harris sisters – Grace ($131,000) and Laura ($78,300) – were bought by UP and Delhi, respectively, after bidding battles.

A total of 87 players were bought at the auction, 30 of them overseas recruits. Australia provided the highest representation from a single country.

AAP

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