Ashleigh Gardner tests positive for Covid-19

The Australia allrounder will miss her side's World Cup matches against England (March 5) and Pakistan (March 8)

Ashleigh Gardner has tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup.

The Australia allrounder has begun a mandatory 10-day isolation period in Christchurch and will miss her side’s matches against England (March 5) and Pakistan (March 8).

The remainder of the squad and support staff have all returned negative tests and will travel to Hamilton without her ahead of their tournament opener.

Gardner’s absence is a blow for Australia. Since the 2017 World Cup final, the 24-year-old has established herself as a key middle-order batter and handy off-spin bowling option, featuring in 32 of Australia’s 33 ODIs.

^{Gardner in action during the Ashes [Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images]}

During that period, she has scored 521 runs at 27.42 and with a strike rate of 113.26 and taken 32 wickets at 23.75.

Grace Harris, a spin-bowling allrounder, is the like-for-like swap for Gardner. Although she hasn't played an ODI since 2016, the 28-year-old's strike rates in List A (98.35) and T20 (126.42) cricket suggest she could offer similar explosivity to Gardner while she also performed well for Australia A against England A back in January, scoring rapid knocks of 28 and 37 not out.

Amanda-Jade Wellington and Annabel Sutherland are also options.

Gardner’s positive test comes hot on the heels of an ICC announcement confirming there would be no strict bubbles or daily testing during the tournament.