Ashleigh Gardner's shock reveal amid record-breaking heroics

Aussie spin star Ashleigh Gardner has produced one of the greatest ever spells of bowling in test cricket help Australia defeat England in their sole Ashes test on day 5 at Trent Bridge. Australia knew their hopes of winning their first test match since 2015 rested on Gardner after the off-spinner took 3-33 on day 4 to put Australia back in charge.

England were staring at 152 more runs to win on day 5, but Gardner made sure they didn't get too close with Gardner taking five wickets on the final day to end with astonishing figures of 8-66. The off-spinner now goes down in cricket folklore having produced the best innings figures ever by an Australian women and the second-best in history.

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She finished with a match-high figures 12-165, edging World No.1 bowler Sophie Ecclestone who took 10 wickets, to finish with the second-best figures ever recorded in a women's test match. Gardner also revealed after the match she shattered the test records while dealing with pain in her right hand.

Gardner injured her index finger on her bowling hand during Australia's warm-up match against England A before the beginning of their sole Ashes test. Gardner didn't have a practice bowl before the match due to the pain, but admitted the excitement of the Ashes helped her through the week.

"My finger obviously bent backwards where it's probably not supposed to. It's almost stretched that ligament a little bit," Gardner said. "Adrenaline does funny things and I completely forget about it as soon as the ball was in hand.

"So as soon as I wasn't bowling (at Trent Bridge), I put a splint straight on it, just to protect it because in the field is where I'm more likely to get hit. It was quite frustrating but because I didn't get that match practice in before the Test. It was about trusting what I'd already done, I wasn't going to lose a skill overnight.

"And know my good stuff was good enough." Fans were quick to praise Gardner for her gutsy and record-breaking effort, which puts Australia up in the all-format series against England.

Alyssa Healy battles injury in Ashes win

Gardner wasn't the only one battling through a hand issue. Alyssa Healy admitted she had taken a knock on each hand and it resulted in her dropping down the order to No.8. Regardless, she dug deep behind the stumps and with the bat scoring a 50 to help set England a record-breaking target.

After being sledged for dropping herself down the order, Healy revealed it was for the good of the team.

"It's what happens as a wicketkeeper, you get knocks on the fingers," Healy said. "Unfortunately for me it was one on each hand and it made it difficult batting and being able to grip the bat, particularly after keeping for 110 overs." Despite the pain, Healy said she would be ready for the white-ball format that will all count towards a point-system in determining who wins the Ashes.

And Healy admitted it was the sledging that fired her up to score a quick-fire 50 and take six dismissals. "I got reminded of (the three straight ducks) quite a bit walking out there and also copping a gobful coming in at No.8," Healy said.

"It probably switched me on a little bit more than what I normally am."

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