Australia still best team in women's cricket, says Gardner ahead of India series

Sydney, Dec 30 (PTI) Star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner believes Australia remain the "best team in the world" despite no longer being the reigning T20 or ODI champions, and is confident they will bounce back against India when the two teams renew their rivalry in February.

Gardner said Australia's setbacks at the T20 and ODI World Cups exposed the team to pressure it is not accustomed to.

"We've certainly been put under pressure recently. But I can still sit here confidently saying that we're the best team in the world," Gardner told cricket.com.au.

Australia will host the newly-crowned 50-over world champions India for a full series comprising three T20 Internationals, as many ODIs and a Test during February and March next year.

"India's going to come across with a lot of confidence, as they should. They've obviously played some really good cricket recently," Gardner said.

"They challenged us in the ODI series before the World Cup and then had the upper hand in that semi-final." Gardner said familiarity with home conditions would work in Australia's favour but acknowledged India's growing threat.

"They're also coming over to our conditions, which we know better than them. If they do challenge us, we know what to do in those moments as well." The series will be the first meeting between the two sides since India’s semifinal win over Australia in last month's ODI World Cup, which ended Australia’s title defence.

"Over the last 12 to 18 months, we've only lost about two games, and I think the two games that we lost were both in semi-finals.

"It kind of shows the consistency of the group. It's just about putting those pieces together to hopefully win those trophies," she added.

Australia were also eliminated at the semifinal stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing a low-scoring contest to South Africa.

As a result, Australia are not the reigning world champions in either white-ball format for the first time in more than seven years.

Gardner identified handling pressure in key moments as the main area for improvement.

"Just winning those small moments in those high-pressure situations, which, ultimately in a World Cup, when you're playing in finals cricket, you need to be able to do.And for us, we weren't able to do that," said the 28-year-old.

"Sometimes when you're under pressure, maybe you make the wrong decision.

"It's making sure that we know the mental side of our game as well is in the best place that it can be, because ultimately that's going to help you make the right decision on the field," she added. PTI APA APA PDS PDS