Ashleigh Gardner confirmed her separation from wife Monica Wright and acknowledged that Cricket Australia needed to address the situation given her role as vice-captain. Gardner posted a statement on her Instagram Stories on August 13, asking for privacy while thanking the CA Board for backing her continued role following weeks of public scrutiny over her alleged affair with teammate Georgia Voll.
“While my separation from my wife is a personal matter, I understand my current relationship status needed to be addressed by Cricket Australia given my position as vice-captain.”
Ashleigh Gardner, Instagram Stories, August 13, 2026
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Gardner and Wright married in the Blue Mountains in April 2025. The relationship broke down during Australia’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup campaign in India, according to multiple reports. Wright went public with her allegations in July 2026, posting a photograph of Georgia Voll on her Instagram with the caption, “This is who my wife cheated on me with.”
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Wright did not stop at the Instagram post. In an interview with Code Sports, she called on Cricket Australia to strip Gardner of the vice-captaincy, raising concerns about a power imbalance between a senior player and a younger teammate.
“You can’t have an affair with a junior member of staff, especially when there’s a clear power imbalance, and then remain in a position of leadership.”
Monica Wright, Code Sports interview, August 2026
Gardner did not address Wright’s specific allegations or confirm the relationship with Voll in her statement. She expressed gratitude for the time she and Wright shared, apologised for the pain caused, and wished her former wife happiness and success.
Insider Read:
Gardner will be excluded from selection conversations whenever Voll’s place in the squad or playing XI comes up. In a men’s setup with a large coaching staff, multiple selectors, and a deep support structure, one person stepping out of the room barely registers.
Women’s cricket operates differently. The group making those calls in an Australian women’s squad is typically three or four people: the captain, vice-captain, and maybe one or two senior players. When one of them leaves mid-conversation, everyone notices. It does not matter how discreetly it is handled.
The recusal also changes Gardner’s authority in ways that go beyond who bats where. A vice-captain’s influence comes from being involved in every tactical decision and every squad discussion. The moment teammates know there is a topic she cannot be part of, a boundary exists around her role that was not there before.
Whether Voll bats at three or is dropped entirely, Gardner will have had no say. That is not something you can quietly manage in a group that small. It becomes part of how the squad reads her standing.
The real test will play out on the field. Players will watch whether Gardner’s tactical calls involving Voll are questioned. They will watch whether captain Sophie Molineux can maintain full authority when her vice-captain has a visible personal interest in a teammate’s performance. These dynamics do not appear in policy documents. They play out in training sessions, team meetings, and the small moments between overs where trust is tested without anyone watching.
Will Cricket Australia Keep Gardner as Vice-Captain After Voll Affair?
CA’s board stated on August 13 that Gardner will remain vice-captain alongside Tahlia McGrath under captain Sophie Molineux. CEO Todd Greenberg addressed the controversy on SEN Radio the same day, saying the board had reviewed the situation and chose to reaffirm its backing.
“We’ve got policies in place but we will put additional ones in place given Ash is now vice-captain. If there are relationships that have been disclosed and they have been, then we will make sure that conflict, perceived or real, around selections are removed, so Ash is not involved in those things.”
Todd Greenberg, CA CEO, SEN Radio, August 13, 2026
Greenberg revealed that CA had been aware of the Gardner-Voll relationship before it became public. He stated that the captaincy decision to appoint Molineux ahead of Gardner earlier this year was not influenced by the situation. CA activated conflict-of-interest arrangements under its Respect at Work policy, requiring Gardner to step out of any meeting where Voll’s selection is on the table.
Her WBBL franchise, the Sydney Sixers, where she serves as captain, also extended full support.
Gardner is currently playing for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred in England. The Trent Rockets finished top of the league stage with 28 points from eight matches, winning seven and losing one. They play the final at Lord’s on August 16.
She was part of Australia’s Women’s T20 World Cup winning squad earlier this year, where Australia defeated England at Lord’s. Gardner was overlooked for the full-time captaincy when Alyssa Healy retired, with that role going to Molineux. Gardner has not made any further public comment on the matter, and Georgia Voll has not released any statement since the affair became public.
Also Read:
- Wright, Gardner, Voll: The Affair and Vice-Captaincy Question
- Georgia Voll and the Gardner Affair
- Sciver-Brunt and Trent Rockets in the Hundred Final
- Heather Knight to Retire from International Cricket
- India Women South Africa Schedule Revised
- Peter Clarke Named Sydney Sixers WBBL Coach
- Coach Shane McDermott Resigns
- Emma Lamb on Inspiring Young Cricketers
