Australian superstar Ash Gardner has been ruled out of the first Twenty20 against New Zealand after suffering a concussion in the warm-up.
Gardner, the reigning Belinda Clark award winner, clashed heads with Georgia Wareham during a game of torpedo.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gardner concussed after head clash.
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Both players were shaken by the incident with Gardner going to ground.
“You can see the instant discomfort, pain and disbelief from both players,” Channel 7 commentator Emma Freedman said.
Australian great Lisa Sthalekar said there will be immediate concern for Gardner, who has had a history of concussions.
“Well firstly surprise from everyone else and then it’s like ‘are you all OK?’ and then reality set in and it’s for Ash Gardner because she’s actually had a history of concussions,” she said.
“It got to a point in Ash Gardner’s career where if she had another one within that short space it was going to be really detrimental for her so no doubt they will want to look after her and protect her.”
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Gardner will likely miss the remainder of the series as a result of the incident.
All-rounder Heather Graham has replaced Gardner in the starting lineup.
Powerful Australian batter Grace Harris has been ruled out of the three-match series after straining her right calf at training this week.
Australia expect her to be fit and available for next month’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
New Zealand have suffered a blow of their own with captain Sophie Devine not available for the series-opener, with Suzie Bates to skipper in her absence.
The White Ferns have lost their last seven T20s, with another defeat to equal their worst losing streak in their history.
AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (capt), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Heather Graham, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck
NEW ZEALAND: Suzie Bates (capt), Georgia Plimmer, Amelie Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Molly Penfold, Fran Jonas.
– With AAP
