THE return of Ash Gardner to the Sydney Sixers line-up has the team happy heading into their match against Perth Scorchers today.
The Scorchers demolished the Sixers when they last met at Wollongong on December 12, going home with a nine-wicket win.
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Gardner suffered a concussion that match and has been sidelined since. It hasn’t held the Sydney side back too much though, that loss to the Scorchers their only hiccup as they sit top of the table with four wins from five.
But Sixers bowler Sarah Aley said her return is a massive boost as they attempt to reverse that loss at Lilac Hill.
“Definitely happy to have her back. Considering the two innings that she played at North Sydney Oval we definitely want to get her back into it and striking the ball again,” Aley said of Gardner’s record 114 off 52 balls.
“I don’t think any of us can fathom what she might become. The fact that innings we saw at North Sydney, that 100, I don’t I’ve ever seen anybody hit the ball as well as she has during that.
“It’s always great to have somebody like her come back into your line-up and I’m sure she’s very excited as well.
“It’s been a bit of a lengthy process for her but health always comes first when it comes to those types of things.”
Aley will have her work cut out for her taking on the Scorchers batters.
Perth boasts the likes of Australian opener Nicole Bolton and England internationals Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt, but its captain Elyse Villani who has been tearing through bowling attacks.
The Southern Stars rep posted an 84no last match against Melbourne Stars and recorded a 72 before that as well as an unbeaten 74 in the win over the Sixers.
“It’s almost a little bit like Steve Smith at the moment, it seems like no one can get her out,” Aley said.
“We’ll look at some footage and go over some plans but if all our bowlers can stick to our plans I think we have a strong enough bowling line-up that we can contain her.
“The first game there were a couple of chances we didn’t quite take and that can change the result if you take those early enough,.
“They’ve got some strong batters in their line-up so even if we do get her early there’s still plenty of others we need to try to contain as well.”
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