Ashleigh Gardner has accepted the captain’s armband at the Sydney Sixers, taking over from long-time skipper Ellyse Perry as the club tries to climb back towards the pointy end of the Women’s Big Bash League.
The move has been coming. Perry has been in charge since ball one of the inaugural 2015-16 season, guiding the Sixers to consecutive titles in WBBL02 and 03. Since then, though, the side have managed only one finals appearance in six attempts. With new head coach Matthew Mott now in situ, the hierarchy felt the time was right to freshen things up.
Gardner, 28, is a foundation Sixer and their most-capped player – 135 matches, 102 wickets, 2607 runs. Her leadership credentials have grown steadily: she captained Gujarat Giants in the WPL, led Trent Rockets in the Hundred and deputised for Alyssa Healy on Australia’s T20I tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
“I’m honoured to be appointed captain of the Sydney Sixers, a club I’ve proudly represented for my whole career,” Gardner said. “Over the past decade I’ve learned from some amazing leaders, including Pez and Midge at the Sixers, and I can’t wait to lead the team.”
Perry, now 35, remains contracted for at least another three seasons and was quick to endorse the handover. “It’s been an immense pleasure to have the opportunity to lead the Sixers over the last ten years,” she said. “Ash has offered so much to Sixers on and off the field and her strong interest in giving her best as a leader will be an exciting starting point for our team this season.”
Mott, who oversaw Australia’s dominant era before guiding England’s white-ball men to the T20 World Cup, has already spoken privately about building a more flexible batting group and tightening up the death-over plans. The Gardner-Mott partnership is seen inside the club as a medium-term investment rather than a quick fix.
There’s also a bigger picture. Healy has indicated the recent ODI World Cup was her last in that format, so national selectors will soon need a new overall leader. Gardner is firmly in that conversation alongside Tahlia McGrath, and a successful stint with the Sixers would strengthen her case.
First things first, though. Healy will miss Sunday’s opener against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA after jarring a thumb in the World Cup semi-final. The injury isn’t serious, but medical staff want another week of rest before she keeps wicket again.
Elsewhere, Melbourne Renegades skipper Sophie Molineux is out of the first two matches with a tight quad. Fellow spinner Georgia Wareham will stand in until Molineux is fit.
For the Sixers, the objectives feel straightforward: rediscover the intensity that made them early WBBL trend-setters, back the emerging leaders and, if possible, secure a return to finals cricket. Gardner now has the chance to show she can guide that journey.
