School Sport Australia under-12 cricket national championships: Full wrap from Darwin 2023

Australia could be claiming world titles for many years to come with the talent coming through at grassroots level. Meet the emerging youngsters from every corner of the country who are shining bright.

The future of Australian cricket is in good hands if the strong talent coming through the junior ranks from various parts of the country is anything to go by.

The youngsters who were lucky enough to get the opportunity in the under-12 cricket national championships to showcase their skills earlier this month did a great job of it in Darwin.

Queensland sneaked over the line to claim the Ricky Ponting Cup in the boys competition and New South Wales powered to glory for the girls to take home the Grahame Barrett Shield.

School Sport Australia national sport advisor for cricket Peter Smith said it was a “very successful” week in Darwin.

Smith said it was “pleasing to see every team enjoying their games over the course of the week and to witness the development of the talented young players”.

“The teams handled the hot weather conditions very well during the week,” he said.

“This was the first year that the girls have played 40-over games and this was seen by all team officials as a successful change.

“All state and territory team officials are to be commended for their efforts during the championship.”

In the boys final, it was a run chase against the odds for Queensland with New South Wales winning the toss and placing an imposing score of 151 across 40 overs.

And with four overs left, Queensland lost the last of their big hitters, Cooper Armstrong, to NSW’s James Sykes.

However, after crunching the numbers coach David Gee kept his cool and encouraged his remaining batters to keep it tight and aim for the singles.

The Queensland Maroons won the 2023 SSA 12 & Under Cricket Championships Boys in Darwin. Back row: David Gee (coach), Cooper Armstrong, Mason Cunning, Michael McLeod, Jack McGown, Jed Robinson, Eklavya Yadev and team manager Tim Smith. Front row: Joshua Brooke, Arjun Dhanda, Calem McCarthie (C), Caeden Ford (C), Daniel MacDonald, Marcus Strelow.

They managed just that and though Eklavya did fall to deadly bowler Arjun Singh, Marcus Strelow and Arjun Dhanda did enough to see their state home.

“The two boys who were out there at the end would have been lucky to bat previously in the tournament because we had placed the big hitters before them,” Gee said.

“But this is a side who can all bat at club level and we realised we didn’t quite need a run every ball to get the win.

“It helped sneak us through, they just kept it tight and aimed for the singles.”

Gee described it as a “very special” result for his side who had put a real focus on playing the team role.

“It’s very special, the boys played to what we trained for where the big focus was playing to the position they were selected for,” he said.

BOYS FINAL PLACINGS

1st Queensland Maroons

2nd New South Wales

3rd Northern Territory/Western Australia

5th Queensland White

6th Victoria

7th South Australia

8th Australian Capital Territory

Meanwhile, the NT drew with WA in the third place playoff with vice-captain Harvey McCormick top scoring for the hosts with 46 runs and claiming 3-26.

The tournament hosts remarkably claimed six wickets for fours runs to secure a draw for equal-third place in the championships.

NT wicketkeeper-bat Lucas Nixon whacked 36 off 48 balls to help get his side to a total of 160.

New South Wales triumphed in the women’s comp posting a score of 10/180 to see off a strong South Australian outfit.

New South Wales won the 2023 SSA 12 & Under Cricket Championships Girls in Darwin. Back row: Eloise Leary, Matilda Hayward, Charlotte Shoemark, Lily Railz, Ella Cattley, Poppi Stephen. Front row: Era Bohoir, Elyssa Bolger, Ava Dragovic, Kaya Kumar, Gayathri Naik, Ruby Carlyon

Charlotte Shoemark top scored for the winners in the final with 33 runs from 60 balls, while Eloise Lawry (26 runs) and Kaya Kumar (22 runs) also managed impressive totals.

New South Wales girls coach Kate Owens said it was an amazing feeling to get the win and credited the “absolutely amazing” cricket facilities in Darwin.

“It’s been a bit of a hard slog, our road to the final was quite tense beating Queensland in the semi,” Owens said.

“Then getting to the final was a bit of a bonus I think but the girls played exceptionally well.

“We had a team mantra that we lived by and they did that through and through throughout the whole week.

“It was a real team effort today with the bat and with the ball so they have had a really great week.”

GIRLS FINAL PLACINGS

1st New South Wales

2nd South Australia

3rd Queensland Maroons

4th Victoria

5th Western Australia

6th Queensland White

7th Australian Capital Territory

8th Northern Territory

OVERALL FINALS PLACINGS

1st New South Wales

2nd Queensland Maroons

3rd Western Australia

4th South Australia

5th Queensland White

6th Victoria

7th Northern Territory

8th Australian Capital Territory

Sportsmanship awards

Ava Dragovic (NSW Girls)

Ayla Johnson (QLD Maroons Girls)

Boys: Top 30 performers from U12 cricket national championships

30. Ahmad Nadeem (WA)

Seven wickets at 16

29. Samuel Judd (VIC)

85 runs at 17

28. Daniel MacDonald (QLD)

86 runs at 17.2

27. Louis Stickney (QLD)

87 runs at 17.4

26. Eklavya Yadav (QLD)

Seven wickets at 15.43

25. Lucas Nixon (NT)

79 runs at 19.75. Three catches

24. Toby Anderson (NT)

Seven wickets at 11.71

23. Vivaan Kanhe (NSW)

102 runs at 20.4

22. James Skyes (NSW)

Seven wickets at 11.14

21. Charlie Harvey (WA)

110 runs at 22

20. Tyson Jansz (NSW)

Seven wickets at 9.29

19. Caleb McDougall (QLD)

Seven wickets at 8.57

18. Sachin Bhaskaran (WA)

109 runs at 27.25

17. Tripatdeep Singh (WA)

114 runs at 28.5

16. Adam Johansen (QLD)

109 runs at 21.8. Four catches

15. Flynn Bush (VIC)

Eight wickets at 15

14. Jaiveer Ballaggan (QLD)

Six wickets at 7.5. 36 runs at 7.2. Three catches

13. Jack McGown (QLD)

126 runs at 31.5

12. Anuk Kottegoda (QLD)

Seven wickets at 12.14. 40 runs at 10

11. Tye Beer (NT)

123 runs at 30.75. Three catches

10. Tanveer Chauvan (WA)

155 runs at 51.67

9. Jed Robinson (QLD)

Nine wickets at 5.33

8. Jay Pfoeffer (WA)

10 wickets at 8.2

7. Renesh Khatri (SA)

10 wickets at 8.2

6. Yash Balyan (VIC)

Nine wickets at 10.33. Eight catches

5. Calem McCathie (QLD)

188 runs at 47.

4. Harvey McCormick (NT)

Eight wickets at 16.75. 72 runs at 18

3. Ethan Natkunamanickam (NSW)

204 runs at 40.8. Six wickets at 13.5. Four catches

2. Cooper Armstrong (QLD)

12 wickets at 4.75. 85 runs at 21.25. Five catches

1. Arjun Singh (NSW)

260 runs at 65. Eight wickets at 9.25

Girls: Top 30 performers from U12 cricket national championships

30. Harper Rudd (WA)

Six wickets at 7.67

29. Asha Pipe (WA)

Seven wickets at 6.71

28. Ella Cattley (NSW)

Eight wickets at 8.63

27. Poppy Agg (VIC)

Eight wickets at 18.25

26. Aarya Repal (QLD)

96 runs at 32.

25. Riya Gupta (SA)

Four wickets at 15.25. 53 runs at 17.67

24. Sara Lalwani (QLD)

Seven wickets at 12.43

23. Georgia Black (QLD)

100 runs at 50

22. Kaija Nielsen (WA)

75 runs at 15. Three wickets at 21.67

21. Sahasra Pulibandla (VIC)

107 runs at 35.67

20. Jordi O’Toole (NT)

Five wickets at 22. 32 runs at 6.4

19. Charlotte Rafton (QLD)

89 runs at 22.25. Two wickets at 11.5

18. Poppi Stephen (NSW)

Five wickets at 10.4. 44 runs at 14.67

17. Rony Reniesha-Rub (QLD)

133 runs at 26.6

16. Kaya Kumar (NSW)

134 runs at 33.5

15. April Chaudhary (VIC)

Five wickets at 10.6. 79 runs at 26.33

14. Targa Jenkins (QLD)

91 runs at 30.33. Four wickets at 16.5

13. Bridget Slattery (SA)

139 runs at 46.33. Two wickets at 39.5

12. Uditi Ratnala (QLD)

Nine wickets at 7.56

11. Sahajdeep Dhaliwal (QLD)

Nine wickets at 6.44

10. Ekam Dhillon (NT)

Nine wickets at 15.33. 46 runs at 11.5

9. Charlotte Shoemark (NSW)

Six wickets at 7.67. 105 runs at 26.25. Two catches

8. Lucy Logan (QLD)

165 runs at 82.5

7. Anushka Mehta (VIC)

142 runs at 28.4. Four wickets at 23.

6. Amani Sharma (WA)

Seven wickets at 8.29. 122 runs at 40.67

5. Gayathri Naik (NSW)

129 runs at 43. Seven wickets at 8.29

4. Ivy Hobbs (SA)

151 runs at 50.33. Six wickets at 3.17. Two catches

3. Varsha Avulanna (VIC)

188 runs at 37.6

2. Gemma Melville (SA)

11 wickets at 3.64

1. Sanvi Shah (SA)

211 runs at 70.33. Two catches

Under-12 Championships rankings at end of pool matches

The future of Australian cricket is in good hands with the talent that has been on show in the under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin this week.

More than 200 cricketers have taken the field since Sunday, representing their states and territories as they strive for national glory in the Top End.

After three days of play, the finalists have been decided while the bottom two teams in each pool will face off as they vy for the highest placing in the final two days of the tournament.

Prior to the finals beginning on Thursday, this publication has put together a list of the top 30 performers from the boys and girls competitions after the completion of the round games.

See the lists.

Boys: Top 30 performers from U12 cricket national championships

Michael McLeod (WA)

53 runs at 17.67

Saharsh Subramanian (NSW)

Four wickets at 13

Angad Panwar (NT)

Four wickets at 11.25

Thomas Biju (WA)

60 runs at 20

Caeden Ford (QLD)

Four wickets at 6.5

Vivaan Kanhe (NSW)

61 runs at 20.33

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. WA U12 Boys Vs QLD U12 Boys White at Tracy Village Oval. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Daniel MacDonald (QLD)

61 runs at 20.33

Eklavya Yadav (QLD)

Five wickets at 12.8

Charlie Harvey (WA)

64 runs 21.33

Caleb McDougall (QLD)

Five wickets at 10.2

20. Robert Murree (QLD)

Five wickets at 10

19. Louis Stickney (QLD)

66 runs at 22

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. NSW U12 Boys Vs ACT U12 Boys at Gardens Oval. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

18. Adam Hutchins (SA)

Five wickets at 7.2

17. Tripatdeep Singh (WA)

75 runs at 37.5

16. Renesh Khatri (SA)

Six wickets at 12.33

15. Samuel Judd (VIC)

81 runs at 27

14. Yash Balyan (VIC)

Six wickets at 11

13. Adam Johansen (QLD)

87 runs at 29

12. Sachin Bhaskaran (WA)

94 runs at 47

11. Toby Anderson (NT)

Six wickets at 8.83

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. WA U12 Boys Vs QLD U12 Boys White at Tracy Village Oval. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

10. Tyson Jansz (NSW)

Six wickets at 6.33

9. Tye Beer (NT)

99 runs at 49.5

8. James Skyes (NSW)

Six wickets at 4.83

7. Tanveer Chauvan (WA)

125 runs at 125

6. Calem McCathie (QLD)

144 runs at 72

5. Cooper Armstrong (QLD)

Six wickets at 4.5. 33 runs at 16.5.

4. Jay Pfoeffer (WA) 

Seven wickets at 8.29

3. Jed Robinson (QLD)

Seven wickets at 3.57

2. Ethan Natkunamanickam (NSW)

172 runs at 57.33. Three wickets at 13.33

1. Arjun Singh (NSW)

168 runs at 84. Three wickets at 7.33

Girls: Top 30 performers from U12 cricket national championships

Ellie Dabinett (SA)

Three wickets at 2.67

Arshia Arora (VIC)

Four wickets at 21.25

Matilda Hayward (NSW)

65 runs at 65

Clare Daley (QLD)

Four wickets at 14.75

Aryahi Chintala (VIC)

68 runs at 68

Audrey Walker (QLD)

Four wickets at 14.5

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. NSW U12 Girls Vs ACT U12 Girls at Nightcliff Oval. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Era Bhoir (NSW)

Four wickets at 13

Targa Jenkins (QLD)

87 runs at 43.5

Asha Pipe (WA)

Four wickets at 7.75

Charlotte Rafton (QLD)

76 runs at 25.33. Two wickets at 11.5

20. Ella Cattley (NSW)

Five wickets at 9.8

19. Riya Gupta (SA)

Four wickets at 6.5. 37 runs at 18.5

18. Anushka Mehta (VIC)

67 runs at 22.33. Three wickets at 16

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. VIC U12 Girls Vs QLD U12 Girls White at DXC Arena, Marrara. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

17. Georgia Black (QLD)

96 runs at 96

16. April Chaudhary (VIC)

Four wickets at 6. 60 runs at 60

15. Sanvi Shah (SA)

106 runs at 53

14. Poppy Agg (VIC)

Six wickets at 16.33

13. Bridget Slattery (SA)

104 runs at 104

12. Sahasra Pulibandla (VIC)

105 runs at 105

11. Kaya Kumar (NSW)

112 runs at 37.33

Players in action at the Under-12 cricket national championships in Darwin, Northern Territory. VIC U12 Girls Vs QLD U12 Girls White at DXC Arena, Marrara. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

10. Ekam Dhillon (NT)

Seven wickets at 15.86

9. Uditi Ratnala (QLD)

Seven wickets at 8.29

8. Ivy Hobbs (SA)

106 runs at 106. Two wickets at 3.5

7. Amani Sharma (WA) 

Six wickets at 7.67. 43 runs at 21.5

6. Lucy Logan (QLD)

124 runs at 62

5. Sahajdeep Dhaliwal (QLD)

Seven wickets at 7.57

4. Gemma Melville (SA)

Seven wickets at 3

3. Charlotte Shoemark (NSW)

Six wickets at 5.67. 72 runs at 24

2. Varsha Avulanna (VIC)

164 runs at 54.67

1. Gayathri Naik (NSW)

129 runs at 64.5. Five wickets at 8

Day two wrap of Under-12 cricket national championships

The Northern Territory boys upset Victoria to become one of the first two sides to secure finals spots in the U12 cricket national championships in Darwin on Monday.

The NT boys alongside Queensland Maroons will automatically qualify for finals as the only two sides in the same pool who are undefeated after two games.

NT kept their undefeated streak alive after a nail-biting win over Victoria where the locals managed to chase 168 with one over to spare.

Rithun Ramanan top scored for the NT with an unbeaten 27, finishing the run chase alongside Toby Anderson on 15 not-out.

The Territory side got over the line seven wickets down.

The NT under-12 boys have made it through to the finals.

Meanwhile, finals spots remain up for grabs in Pool B of the boys and both pools in the girls on the final day of cricket before finals action begins on Thursday.

Winning margins are sure to be a deciding factor for the finals positions on day three of the championships.

Here’s the top performers from day two.

Highest individual batting score: Lucy Logan

The Queensland Maroon opening bat smashed an unbeaten half century of 53 off 47 deliveries to help get her side to a strong total of 303 against the NT.

Logan struck four boundaries in her top innings before coming off retired not out.

Highest individual wicket-taker: Gemma Melville

After the South Australian under-12 girls posted a solid total of 240 at Gardens Oval, Melville steered her side over the line in comfort with a top bowling display.

The opening bowler took 4-4 off three overs, dismissing batters number two, three, four and five as WA were bowled out for 26.

Day one wrap of Under-12 cricket national championships

The first day of the under-12 cricket national championships saw some big totals posted while the bowlers also managed to take wickets.

Tournament hosts Northern Territory had a strong win to begin their campaign, defeating South Australia in the boys at Gardens Oval.

There were seven different wicket-takers for NT with Benjamin King and vice-captain Harvey McCormick taking two each to help bowl SA out for 81.

In reply, NT captain Tye Beer starred, top scoring with 33 opening the bat to lead his side to a comfortable victory.

Branden Gawthrope also contributed with a handy 18 coming in at number three.

Northern Territory Under-12 boys captain Tye Beer, coach Chris McCormick and the youngest player in the side William Handford.

Other notable results included the Queensland White boys posting the biggest total with 9-265 from 40 overs in their win over ACT.

QLD number three batter Adam Johansen top scored in the encounter with 74 from 62 deliveries, featuring 11 fours.

His teammates chipped in as well with five batters making scores in the 20s.

ACT were bowled out for 116 from 34.3 overs.

The QLD Maroon boys had the second highest total of the round with 7-244, followed by the NSW girls with 10-244 and NSW boys with 6-236.

Highest individual batting score: Ethan Natkunamanickam

Natkunamanickam’s half century of 87 from 102 deliveries opening the batting led the NSW boys to posting a strong total of 6-236 against WA.

Alongside Natkunamanickam was Arjun Singh who notched an unbeaten 85 coming in at number three.

The solid knocks set up NSW for a convincing win as they went on to bowl out WA for 160.

Highest individual wicket-taker: Amani Sharma

The WA girls skipper Amani Sharma took 4-6 from three overs in her side’s strong win over the Northern Territory at Cazalys Oval.

After WA scored 10-224, Sharma’s four wickets played a major part in bowling NT out for 56.

Full rundown of the under-12 cricket championships in Darwin

The son of AFL royalty Chris Judd is joining the best junior talent from across the country in Darwin this week for the School Sport Australia Cricket Championships.

The championships, which run from June 4-9 give the best young talent from across the country a taste at representing their schools and states in a thrilling competition.

And 2023 marks a special year for the NT who not only get to host the tournament, but will have a girls team for the very first time.

Featuring for Victoria is Oscar Judd, the son of two-time Brownlow medallist Chris Judd.

Meanwhile, Tye Beer will captain a boys team made up of talent selected from the School of Sport Education NT Cricket Championships held in April.

“We’re feeling pretty good, we’ve got a good team and hopefully we do well,” Beer said.

“It’s been hard training, the coaches have had us working hard ahead of facing South Australia on Sunday.

“Hopefully it’s a good pitch and we can go out there and score runs, and as captain I’ve got a bit of a responsibility to make those runs.”

Tye Beer (boys Captain) ahead of the under-12 cricket championships in Darwin. Picture: NT Cricket

NT boys coach Chris McCormick was particularly pleased to be taking part with expectations high for his young squad.

“I am really excited to see what this great group of kids can do in their first crack in Territory colours,” McCormick said.

“They have prepared exceptionally well in a short period of time and they are ready to hit the ground running against South Australia at Gardens Oval on Sunday.

“It’s a well-balanced side with a deep batting line-up and variety with the ball. I’d love to see a big crowd of Territorians there to watch the boys play their fearless brand of cricket.”

The NT is in the same pool as teams from South Australia, Victoria and Queensland with New South Wales, ACT, Western Australia and a second Queensland team in the opposite pool.

EVERY PLAYER COMPETING

NT Under 12 Boys team

Tye Beer

Ben King

Ty Jennings

Rithun Ramanan

Toby Anderson

Angad Panwar

Harvey McCormick

Tathira Gautham Wijegunarathna

Branden Gawthrope

Lucas Nixon

Joel Kitching

Nate Watson

William Handford

Reserves:

Marcus Nichols

Stephen McCormack

Logan Abbott

Addison Omeike

Henry Raveney

Adam Duncum

NT Under 12 Girls team

Sophie Cameron

Addison Gallagher

Prajna Kumar

Joshitha Kumar

Nishie Panchal

Joanna Picket

Jordi O’Toole

Ekam Dhillon

Eimi Smith

Abbey Warton

Elisha Halvorsen

Abbie Halvorsen

Olivia Schulz

Reserves:

Emily Tomlin

Violet Burrows

Hannah Fior

Charlotte Hill

Rhegan Rose

ACT Boys

Archie Boorer

Archie Brown

Edward Barnes

Luc Tipping

Lucas Lapthorne

Preston Tarry

Lachlan Miller

Luca Ciocca-Marchant

Nicholas Blencowe

Preston Singer

Rhys Gray

Yaksh Patel

Reuben Black

ACT Girls

Anaya Siddhartha

Anika Jaidi

Ava Wrathall

Iolanthe Thompson

Devri Muthukuda

Sarvagnya Chanduri

Deekshita Reddy

Swairee Reichana Rajapaksha

Amelie Smith

Veronica Graak

Aishani Sangam

TahliaSmith

NSW Boys

Ethan Natkunmanickam

Vivaan Kanhe

Arjun Singh

Hugh Hanrahan

William Malone

Joel Pagano

Kai Laws

Charles Clifford

Saharsh Subramanian

Tyson Jansz

Asher Beheram

James Sykes

NSW Girls

Elyssa Bolger

Gayathri Naik

Kaya Kumar

Era Bhoir

Ella Cattley

Charlotte Shoemark

Poppi Stephen

Lily Railz

Eloise Lawry

Ruby Carlyon

Ava Dragovic

Matilda Hayward

Queensland Boys Maroon

Cooper Armstrong

Joshua Brooke

Mason Cumming

Arjun Dhanda

Caden Ford

Calem McCathie

Jack McGown

Daniel MacDonald

Michael McLeod

Jed Robinson

Marcus Strelow

Ekalavya Yadav

Queensland Girls Maroon

Lucy Logan

Charlotte Rafton

Ayla Johnson

Jayani Maharaj

Macie Whiting

Georgia Black

Sahajdeep Dhaliwal

Margot Wallwork

Lily McLaughlin

Tanisha Gudigar

Amelia Kuhn

Uditi Ratnala

Queensland Boys White

Anuk Kottegoda

Jay Unagar

Caleb McDougall

Javieer Ballaggan

Louis Stickney

Adam Johansen

Callem Pentecost

Jackson Stewart

Robert Murree

Sonny Harvey

Isaac Brown

Quinn Davidson

Queensland Girls White

Aarya Repal

Targa Jenkins

Ella Stewart

Stella Dwyer

Evie Phillips

Sara Lalwani

Clare Daley

Jiaya Meudell

Reniesha-Ruby Rony

Ruwenthika Nithyananthan

Pahanmee Meegasdeniya

Audrey Walker

South Australia Boys

Joshua Antell

Charlie Foster

Adam Hutchins

Matthew Harris

Renesh Khatri

Tom Laube

Sidney McDonald

Noah Pittman

Felix Nelson

Dhairy Patel

Max Tresidder

Thomas Tully

SA Girls

Ivy Hobbs

Riya Gupta

Mollie McArdle

Bridget Slattery

Ellie Dabinett

Sophie Prior

Saoirse Flynn

Lucy Hazelgrove

Naavya Raghula

Alexandra Heneker

Gemma Melville

Abby Bain

Sanvi Shah

Victoria Boys

Yash Balyan

Declan Brasher

Kaevish Bhasin

Ned Bolton

Flynn Bush

Samuel Gregory

Oscar Judd

Samuel Judd

Aadarsh Itankar

Harry Middleton

Joshua Mithen

Aarav Saxena

Prabhnoor Singh Boparai

Victoria Girls

Amelia (Minnie) Chamberlain

Anushka Mehta

April Chaudhary

Arshia Arora

Charli O’Loughlin

Falak Syeda

Jessica Hodgkinson

Macey White

Poppy Agg

Sahasra Pulibandla

Tulip Sharma

Varsha Avulanna

Aryahi Chintala

WA Boys

Sachin Bhaskaran

Thomas Biju

Tanveer Chauvan

Shayan Dash

Luke Grantham

Charlie Harvey

Thomas Hinchcliffe

Jack Hodge

Chayse Moir

Ahmad Nadeem

Jay Pfoeffer

Tripatdeep Singh

James Tyson

WA Girls

Rachel Kelly

Abigail Tutt

Kitty Wilkinson

Harper Seaton

Trisha Jain

Asha Pipe

Kaija Nielsen

Jaanhvi Iyer

Penny Cheetham

Harper Rudd

Isla Tedeschi

Amani Sharma

Kina Patel

Originally published as School Sport Australia under-12 cricket national championships: Full wrap from Darwin 2023