Injury scare for Australia's Ashleigh Gardner ahead of T20 World Cup

All-rounder Gardner was pulled out from Australia's playing XI minutes before the toss in bizarre circumstances. While warming up before the opening T20I against New Zealand began in Mackay, Gardner suffered a hit in the jaw due to a collision with teammate Georgia Wareham.

As a result, concussion protocols were enforced, and Gardner was ruled. She last suffered a concussion four years ago, in 2020.

Heather Graham was named in the XI in her place.

Gardner is expected to play an important part in the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in UAE, where Australia will eye for a fourth title in a row and seventh overall.

Gardner's concussion scare adds to Australia's injury woes with Grace Harris and Kim Garth still on their road to recovery who are also missing the preparations for the T20 World Cup.

Australia women's coach Shelley Nitschke provided an update on Gardner during the match.

"It was a little bit hectic. We walked out, there was something happening in the warm-up and then Ash was on the ground and, unfortunately, ruled out of the game.

She is good. It is just a precaution. She is in concussion protocols at the moment. Given that we've got a fair bit of cricket ahead of us, so, we took a bit of precaution to rule her out of the game. She had a (concussion) test and she passed."