Ashleigh Gardner's fluent 61 has helped Australia to a 17-run win in their T20 opener against New Zealand in Brisbane, their first game since March's World Cup.

Sophie Devine thinks the long break between fixtures will work in New Zealand's favour as they attempt to halt a five-match T20 losing streak against Australia.

Known for his flamboyance and attacking batting style, Dean Jones' career-defining innings ended with him in hospital on a saline drip.

Allrounder Ben Cutting is thrilled to link up with a host of familiar faces at the Sydney Thunder, with one of them his future best man.

South Australia will be the host hub for the first four rounds of the Sheffield Shield season, which gets under way on October 10.

Australian opener Beth Mooney says she's learning to be more assertive at the crease as she prepares to start the summer as the world's top-ranked T20 batter.