Gardner still remembers her 'hero' Symonds, calls his demise 'pretty devastating'

Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has talked about her friendship with Andrew Symonds and how he continues to inspire her. The late Andrew Symonds' legacy lives on in Australia's all-conquering women's squad, with all-rounder Gardner vowing to attack the game like her 'hero' did during his career.

Gardner paid tribute to Symonds, who passed away in a car accident last Sunday, praising him for sparking her love of the game and admitting they had exchanged texts as recently as the World Cup.

Former Australian head coach Matthew Mott, a personal friend of Symonds, introduced the two, and Gardner stated that the days after the 46-year-old's death have been 'pretty devastating'.

"Being able to talk to your idol is something that you probably never dream of, or having their phone number in your phone," she stated.

"He sent me texts over the Ashes and around the World Cup and when I won the Belinda Clark Medal. To receive that from someone that you've looked up to for pretty much most of your junior playing career was certainly something pretty cool."

The big-hitting all-rounder further said that she believes Symonds' determination to go on the offensive side has always inspired her.

"The past week has been pretty devastating, as you'd imagine, and I'm certainly feeling for everyone that was really close to him and his family."

"Watching his highlights ... watching him bat and watching him field, he just took the game on. And I guess that's something that I've tried to do."

"If people watch me play cricket, they know that I'm generally out there for a good time, and it's just about taking the game on and just showing that fearless side to you. I think he did that in every aspect of the game, and he just looked like he had fun out there," she concluded.