One of the game’s biggest stars has opted to extend her time with the Sydney Sixers, with Ashleigh Gardner putting pen to paper on a two-year contract extension.
Already signed on for the upcoming Weber WBBL|11 season, the freshly minted extension will see Gardner in Sixers colours through to the end of WBBL|13.
One of the club’s foundation players, Gardner made her debut in the competition’s first season, celebrating a decade of service to the Sixers last summer.
A two-time WBBL champion (WBBL|02 and WBBL|03), the all-rounder is now one of the league’s most experienced players, with 135 appearances to her name and one of the competition’s most enviable highlights reels.
With 2,607 runs already under her belt, the off spinner reached another milestone in her career last summer, joining a star-studded list of players to have secured 100 WBBL wickets.
Named Player of the Tournament for the WBBL|08 season on the back of an outstanding campaign with both bat and ball, Gardner collected a remarkable 23 wickets in addition to 339 runs, helping the Sixers to a record-breaking 11 regular-season wins and a Grand Final appearance.
Making her mark on the competition as a 21-year-old, Gardner set North Sydney Oval alight during WBBL|03, smacking a record-breaking 114 from just 52 deliveries in front of the home crowd, in a performance that remains one of the highest scores in the competition to date.
The extension of the fan favourite comes fresh on the heels of the re-signing of fellow Australian star Ellyse Perry, who committed to a further three years with the club back in June.
Gardner is also set to reunite this season with her World Cup-winning coach, Matthew Mott, who was appointed to lead the side following the departure of Charlotte Edwards earlier this year.
Sixers General Manager, Rachael Haynes said it was crucial for the club to continue looking ahead.
“Ash is an incredibly important player in our side, and it’s essential for us to continue looking ahead and securing our players long-term to ensure our list is in the best possible position for the future.
“Ash has been a part of our club’s history for over a decade. We’ve watched her grow as a player and a person over the last ten years, and it’s been fantastic to see her become one of the very best in the world.
“We’re looking forward to an extremely exciting season of WBBL. We have a new head coach and plenty of exciting youth in our group, and now heading into the season with another piece of our core secured is really exciting for our fans and members.
The Sixers will kick off their Weber WBBL|11 season against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA on Sunday, November 9, before hosting the Hobart Hurricanes at North Sydney Oval on Thursday, November 13.
Tickets for the Weber WBBL|11 season are on sale now.