Ellyse Perry and Matt Toomua split after five years of marriage

Australia’s woman cricketer Ellyse Perry and her husband Matt Toomua have decided to part their ways after being married for five years. Toomua and Perry had tied the knot in December 2015. While Ellyse plays for Australia’s women’s cricket team, Toomua is a professional rugby player who represents Melbourne Rebels.

Though the news of the two getting divorced is shocking, the rumors of their separation were doing rounds since February this year. It was speculated that the couple is having trouble in their paradise after Perry was spotted without her wedding ring at the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne. The all-rounder was awarded Belinda Clark Award for her stellar performance in cricket for the third time.

Ellyse Perry and Matt Toomua release a joint statement

The power couple announced their separation after being together for almost five years through a joint statement on Sunday. “It’s with the greatest of respect for one another that we decided to separate earlier this year,” the statement read.

“We felt this was the right course of action and is in the best interests of each other and our current lives. This is something that has evolved and is a mutual decision. Throughout our relationship, we have remained private and we ask that our space and privacy continue to be respected during this difficult time for both of us.” it added further.

Though the sporting couple had denied the rumors of their separation earlier this year, a rift between the two became evident after Perry didn’t mention Toomua in her speech after winning the Belinda Clark Award. The couple made their first public appearance in 2013 at the John Eales Medal Awards night before getting engaged a year later and then marrying in 2015.

Professionally, both Ellyse and Toomua have been doing good in their respective careers. Matt was in action on Friday night as he played a vital role in the club’s 29-10 win against the NSW Waratahs at the SCG. Perry, on the other hand, has been instrumental in the victory of Australia’s women’s cricket team over the years. She last played the game during the Women’s T20 World Cup in February-March earlier this year where she had to miss the finals due to an injury.