Australian star Ashleigh Gardner to miss start of World Cup with COVID-19
Australia has copped a huge blow on the eve of its World Cup campaign in New Zealand with star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner testing positive to COVID-19.
Gardner tested positive following a routine rapid antigen test with her result confirmed via a PCR test shortly afterwards.
The 24-year-old will remain in Christchurch as she isolates for the next 10 days and will be out of action for at least the first two matches of Australia's World Cup campaign.
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Gardner will come out of isolation on March 12, a day before Australia's third World Cup match against New Zealand in Wellington.
Australia will have to do without the reigning Belinda Clark Award winner to start its World Cup campaign Getty
Despite Gardner's positive result, the rest of Australia's squad and support staff have tested negative on their respective RATs and will travel to Hamilton this evening ahead of Saturday's World Cup opener against England.
The loss of Gardner is a huge one for Meg Lanning's side due to her destructive ability with both the bat and the ball.
The New South Wales native enjoyed a fantastic 2021 season, and was rewarded with the Belinda Clark Award for her efforts.
Gardner has scored 571 runs in 42 ODIs at an impressive strike rate of 113.97 and also has 43 wickets at an average of 27.02.
