All eyes on T20 World Cup as Gardner aims high for Australia
Ash Gardner is confident her side can regain their best form at the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup.
Star Australia all-rounder Ash Gardner is determined to help her side win next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
The Aussies have suffered a relatively barren run in recent times at ICC events by their lofty standards, with the side unsuccessful at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup and failing to make the final of this year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Best of Ash Gardner | Women's T20WC 2023
Best of Ash Gardner | Women's T20WC 2023
But Gardner has not lost faith and believes Australia can bounce back quickly when the next edition of the T20 World Cup is held in England and Wales from June 12 in 2026.
"You have to think about that, don't you?" Gardner told AAP.
"The last couple of World Cups have been frustrating because of the way that they've ended.
"But I can sit here comfortably and say that I still believe that we're the best team. It's just making sure that we're showing that in those moments where it really matters.
"So I'm certainly thinking about June next year, it seems like a long time away but it realistically isn't and it'll come around very quickly."
Ash Gardner's impeccable ton | Player Highlights | CWC25
Watch Ash Gardner's match-winning century during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash between Australia and England.
Australia will return to action in the new year via a multi-format series against recent 50-over World Cup winners India on home soil during February and March where the side will play a total of six white-ball contests (three ODIs and three T20Is) before a one-off Test in Perth.
The series will form a major part of Australia's preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where Australia are drawn in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, South Africa and a pair of teams that will progress via next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier event in Nepal.
Ashleigh Gardner | Australia's all-rounder extraordinaire | 100% Cricket
And while Australia failed to add to their bulging trophy cabinet at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup, Gardner is not expecting too many changes to be made to tactics or personnel ahead of next year's 20-over showcase.
"I think there's not going to be too many dramatic changes," Gardner said.
"I don't think there necessarily needs to be. It's more those small moments that I don't think we won and kind of letting the game go in ebbs and flows.
"That's going to happen at times, but making sure that if those things do arise, we have the tools and capabilities to recognise it and the tools to get out of that. Everyone's going to probably respond differently. But I would say overall it's a pretty, standard thing that we're trying to achieve."