Sixer stands up as Aussies face crucial captaincy call

Matthew Mott has predicted Ashleigh Gardner will be one of the better leaders Australian cricket ever produces, as the Sydney Sixers take an eye to the future by appointing her captain.

Gardner last week became the first Indigenous captain of a Big Bash side, when she assumed the job at Mott's Sixers from long-time skipper Ellyse Perry.

The decision to make Gardner captain was made before Mott arrived as coach, with an eye to giving the 28-year-old time to work alongside Perry and Alyssa Healy.

But it also comes at an interesting time, with Australia captain Healy aged 34 and having previously weighed up her own retirement plans.

As it stands, Tahlia McGrath is the front-runner to replace Healy in the national role, having filled in as captain 15 times since becoming Healy's deputy.

The 30-year-old has impressed officials with the way she has developed in the job, having been identified as a future leader from a young age in Adelaide.

But some questions linger over her role in the team, after being moved down to No.7 in ODIs and bowling just 6.5 overs in seven matches at the recent World Cup.

Gardner has captained Governor General sides and is also considered a future leader by officials, making her another option.

"You don't have to be Einstein to work out that she's a potential leader down the track, as are a number of the players in that (Australian) squad," Mott said.

"The maturity that she's got over the last few years, and her cricket IQ is as high as anyone in the world at the moment.

"She's learned off some of the great leaders in Australian cricket ... it's just cherry ripe now for her to take this (Sixers) team.

"Ash is going to turn into probably one of the better leaders that has ever been produced in Australian cricket."

Beyond Gardner, youngsters Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield are captaining the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder this summer.

Mott first handed Gardner an Australian debut in 2017, with the hard-hitting finger-spinning allrounder having since become one of the team's most important players.

The allrounder has since captained in both the WPL and Hundred, while she has become a leading voice on Indigenous matters in Australian sport.

"Even as a young player, I saw her in some camps and people gravitated towards Ash at a very, very early age. She had that natural leadership," Mott said.

"Just the way she's taken the game on. She's had some variety of experiences in the WPL, being such a highly-valued commodity over there.

"She's just a really authentic leader. There's no fuss about it. She's a very straight talker, very calm presence, and is a very popular member."

Mott, who coached Australia to three World Cup wins between 2015 and 2022, insisted the national side remain in a good place despite relinquishing the ODI and T20 World Cups in the past 13 months.

"There's certainly no cause for panic stations," Mott said.

"Having watched from a distance, I think the team's as strong as it's ever been."