Top 50 Darwin men’s cricketers since 2000 including Jake Weatherald, Ashley Chandrasinghe and Ken Vowles
Darwin cricket has been blessed by big slogging batsmen, deadly bowlers and brilliant all-rounders. It’s been a challenge to rank the best of the best since 2000 but here is the top 50 list of players.
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Putting names to Northern Territory cricket’s top 50 players across a quarter of a century will always be fraught with danger, complicated by factors such as longevity, interstate or overseas commitments, health reasons and performance.
There are too many “ifs”, “buts” and “maybes” in a sport where one delivery can decide a player’s afternoon and present a false dawn to excitable bowlers.
But there have been some extraordinary players in our time as cricket writers or just as average cricket watchers on lazy Saturday afternoons in Darwin.
Here are the top 50 male cricketers from Australia’s north country through the last 25 years, where superb dry season weather has traditionally brought out the best in batters, fast and slow bowlers, the fielders and the gloved men who stand behind the stumps for hours on end.
The list is based mainly on the longer two-day version of the Territory game.
50 - Ashley Williams (Palmerston)
Essentially a hard hitting middle order bat, Williams could bat anywhere in the top order and more often than not create mayhem with the willow in his hand.
He made a lightning 92 from only 100 balls in the 2011 grand final win over Waratah in another example of his game changing batting.
49 - Nick Allen (Tracy Village)
A top order bat with Tracy Village through the early noughties, Allen’s batting for the Villagers was always worth watching.
His shot selection was superb and he could feast on unsuspecting bowlers who relied too much on line and length bowling when variety can be the spice of life against an attacking batter like Allen.
His 553 runs at close to 40 per innings in the 2003 season and a superb 180 against PINT in 2002 were proof, if it was needed, of his ability.
48 - Greg Brautigam (Darwin)
If a bowler epitomised the value of moving the red and white ball around in Darwin’s tropical heat and lack of humidity through the 25 years this writer looked on from the boundary, it was the Eagles’ medium pacer Greg Brautigam.
Never one to seek the headlines or gloat over a bundle of wickets, Brautigam’s low economy rate and ability to take vital wickets made him an essential part of the Darwin lineup.
47 - Marc Calkin (Nightcliff/PINT/Darwin)
If there had been a popularity poll among Darwin cricketers through the first decade of the 21st century, Nightcliff’s Kiwi import Marc Calkin would have been top of the pops.
A hard hitting top order bat, Calkin loved to bat when the bowling side was on top, often recording big scores while others fell around him.
The 2010 and ‘12 seasons were his best when he scored 691 runs at 53 and 721 runs at 38 two years later.
46 - Coby Edmondstone (Tracy Village/PINT)
A batting all-rounder who had the tag “Mr Consistency” alongside his name every time he made it to the batting crease.
Edmondstone’s 496 runs at 41 almost won him the prestigious Wiese Medal in 2023 and he was no slouch with the ball, regularly grabbing 20-plus wickets a season with his leg spinners.
45 (equal) - Charlie Smith (Nightcliff)
One of the rising stars of Territory cricket with his big turning leg spinners creating havoc with batsmen through the grades until his Premier Grade debut in 2022.
Took 24 wickets at a fraction over 20 runs each in 2023 to showcase his ability as Nightcliff continue to shine with his spin bowling talents a big part of the club.
45 (equal) - Tom Menzies (Darwin)
The young Territorian has already proven himself one for the big time, and for that reason he was called up as the youngest member of the 2023 under-19s Australian side.
The all-rounder, who can bowl with both hands, has proved himself a valuable weapon in both club and representative sides.
Held his nerve in the final over of the 2023 Strike League final to seal the win for the Desert Blaze.
44 - Isaac Conway (Waratah)
The Red Caps skipper, opening bat and wicketkeeper, Conway played a vital role in establishing the Fannie Bay club as a powerhouse in Darwin cricket in his eight-season stay at Gardens Oval.
Probably unlucky not to make the top 20 in these selections, Conway continues to perform at a level most players aspire to, regularly passing the 300-mark in a season.
43 - Anthony Dent (Southern Districts/NTIS)
An enthusiastic cricketer with bat and ball, Dent was at home in club cricket or in the representative arena, where he performed consistently in both spheres.
He took 325 wickets in club cricket across a variety of clubs and could bat with a determination that frustrated rival bowlers and fieldsmen.
42 - Richie Hodgson (PINT)
Another big game performer with a right arm over the right shoulder and neck action that brought him a bundle of wickets.
Statistics only told a small part of Hodgson’s influence when wearing the green cap of PINT. His unbeaten 92 with teammate Tim Garner (103no) for the seventh wicket in the 2014 grand final win over Waratah was a case in point as his side made 6-313 in their second innings run chase.
41 - Michael Kudra (Nightcliff)
A clever gloveman with the Darwin and Districts Tigers who is equally comfortable taking the spin of big turners like Smith and the pace of his faster men.
A reliable middle order bat who can open the batting with equal efficiency, Kudra has become an important member of the Nightcliff side.
40 - Brad Schmulian (Waratah)
A batting all-rounder who arrived at Gardens Oval almost unnoticed in 2016, Schmulian captained Tahs in three successive finals series and was a stellar performer in all of those games.
A top order bat and clever leg spin, Schmulian’s best season was in 2017 when he made 759 runs with the bat and snared 38 wickets at the miserly average of 19.
39 - Simon Lavers (PINT)
Has there been a bigger hitter in Top End cricket than PINT top order bat Simon Lavers? The Greens’ talisman has been described as inconsistent, a nervous starter and an ultimately, a dominator, but on any given afternoon under cloudless Top End skies, “The Pieman” was a delight to watch.
He made two double hundreds in his first season with PINT, 260 against Southern Districts and 222 against Tracy Village, both of them on pleasant Saturday afternoons in 2004.
38 - Dean Fry (Southern Districts)
A bowler who could bat and a batter who could bowl, Fry was a valuable addition to a Districts side that has played regular finals cricket in the last decade and grabbed silverware in the last five.
He made 424 runs at 38.5 in Districts’ 2019 premiership year and thrilled spectators throughout with his brilliant ground fielding.
37 - Ian Redpath (Southern Districts)
“Redders” was at the tailend of his career in the noughties, but his classy batting and smart medium pace bowling were still on show for teammates and rivals to admire.
Two double hundreds, 16 centuries and 34 half centuries and 587 runs at 39 in the 2009 season were proof of his class with the willow and ability to bat in tense situations.
36 - Josh Kann (Sthn Districts/Tracy Village)
The “Hurrikann” was at his peak in red and white ball conditions, treating even the good balls with contempt as he peppered the boundary lines at district grounds around the Top End.
His 629 runs at 63 an innings in 2021 included a magnificent 162 from 153 balls against Waratah with nine boundaries and six sixes.
An entertainer, the Hurrikann was also a dominant player in the white ball game with his big hitting and aggressive fast medium bowling.
35 - Brett Gardiner (Waratah)
A top order bat with no pretensions to bowling, Gardiner was a key player in the Red Caps’ 2009 premiership side when he made 888 runs at 74 every time he reached the batting crease, including a golden run of centuries when he made 173 and 162 inside three matches.
Most notable were the 51 boundaries he accumulated through those innings, further proof of his elegant batting.
34 - Josh Clarkson (PINT)
The strongly built New Zealand all-rounder made a big impression in his 2019 season with the Green Caps.
He made 757 runs at 47, including 125 against Waratah and a blazing 106 from 77 balls against Tracy Village.
A back injury hampered the last half of his season, but the big fast bowler still grabbed 19 wickets at the miserly average of 20 to announce his arrival in Top End cricket.
33 - Matt Calder (Darwin)
If one innings defined the 2019 Darwin and Districts season, it was Matthew Calder’s 270 against PINT at Marrara’s DXC Arena.
Calder’s big fourth wicket partnership with Harry Chamberlain (194) decimated the PINT attack, with his 32 boundaries and 11 sixes a delight to watch on a day when bat dominated ball.
32 - Graeme Beghin (Southern Districts)
Premiership skipper and elegant top order bat Beghin was a key figure in his side’s breakthrough 2019 premiership win.
His 854 runs at the superb average of 94.89 dominated the season, including a double century (203) against Waratah when he hit 13 boundaries and 13 sixes.
In a twist Beghin made the double century and 109 against Tracy Village in successive weeks, before the glorious uncertainty of cricket struck when he made a duck and one Darwin and Nightcliff in the next two matches.
31 - Ben Reichstein (Darwin/PINT)
A useful left-arm medium pacer who claimed a lot of wickets with his ability to seam the ball away from rival batters, Reighstein could be just as effective with a bat in his hand.
His 827 runs at the healthy average of 59 in the 2013 season played a big role in Darwin’s surge to a grand final berth that year.
30 - Todd Pemble (Southern Districts)
A smart, fast medium bowler with Southern Districts, Pemble’s ability to take important wickets was a big force in Districts’ attack.
He grabbed a career high 43 wickets in the 2010 campaign at 15 runs a wicket in a season where Districts missed the finals despite his good work at the bowling crease.
29 - David Andrews (Darwin)
The man they called “Ronnie” after his football hero by the same name at AFL club Essendon, Andrews was the king of left-arm orthodox spin bowling at his peak through the 1990s and into 2000.
A spinner who hated being hit of the wicket square, Andrews’ change of pace and ability to out-think rival batters saw his wicket tally at 342 at less than 14 runs each when he called a halt to his career.
28 - Luke Zanchetta (Darwin)
An aggressive right-arm medium pacer who was a long-term performer in the Eagles’ attack.
Zanchetta had a big engine and an ability to move the ball around, even on flat wickets away from his bowler friendly Kahlin Oval.
A popular character on and off the field, he took 73 wickets in the 2017 (37) and ‘18 (36 wickets) seasons that paved the way for Darwin’s 2018 premiership when they beat Palmerston by eight wickets.
27 - Kieren Voelkl (Southern Districts)
A clever top order bat who made a habit of breaking opposition bowlers’ hearts in a Top End career that took in two premierships with district cricket Crocodiles.
His 671 runs at 56 in the 2019 premiership campaign was his best as a Districts player, including a fine 171 from 181 balls against eventual grand final opponents Darwin at Kahlin Oval.
Voelkl hit 25 boundaries and two sixes that day to stamp himself as a quality bat.
26 - Michael Miller (Palmerston)
A genuinely fast right-arm fast bowler who had batters from all the opposition clubs on the back foot with his high leaping incendiaries.
Queensland-born Miller joined South Australia in the late 1990s, but returned briefly to the Top End game after telling Redbacks selectors he had retired from first class cricket to go fishing in Darwin.
Top 25
The top 25 were game changers and players who sent nervous twitches down opposition captains when they strode onto the field.
They could hit big scores, get runs in a hurry or simply frustrate bowling sides with some smart batting.
In the field they could take those impossible catches when rival batters were composed and settled at the batting crease.
The bowlers always had what good judges often call “overdrive” in their armament, an ability to dismiss the most talented batters with extraordinary deliveries.
25 - Jacob Dickman (Darwin)
Dickman is an aggressive and sometimes patient batter who arrived at the batting crease with a smile on his face before decimating rival bowling attacks.
The man they call “Dicko” could hit quick runs or show a bat as wide as DXC Arena to rival bowlers, including a 198-ball century against Waratah in 2023.
24 - Alex Bleakley (Palmerston)
A top order bat who can bowl wicket taking medium pacers when required, “Bleaks” has established himself as one of the Power’s best all-time cricketers.
He never concerned himself with mere numbers or averages, but his teammates always knew he was a tower of strength in a crisis when he had the willow in his hand.
Bleakley’s 695 runs at 43 in 2017 and 564 at 47 two seasons later show what a good cricketer he is.
23 - Hamish Martin (Palmerston)
A left-arm orthodox spinner in the mould of a David Andrews, Martin is a batsman hater who likes nothing better than watching them form a pathway back to the dressing rooms.
He grabbed 40 wickets at only 16.6 in the 2022 campaign, a season where the Power missed out on finals cricket.
His 8-44 from 28 overs against Tracy Village and 7-143 from 33.2 overs were proof of his powers.
22 - Damian Kulmar (Darwin)
If there has been a more elegant batter than Kulmar in the long history of Darwin cricket, I would give them 200kg of fresh barramundi to the bearer of news to explain to me the whys and why nots of the proposed willow holder.
Kulmar’s driving, particularly on the offside, were straight from a Boys Own manual and displayed all the technique required to succeed at Premier Grade level.
He made a lot of runs in the early noughties, highlighted by a classic unbeaten 200 against PINT at DXC Arena in 2001.
21 - Matt Hammond (Sthn Districts/Darwin)
A batting all-rounder who is a more than useful off-spinner, enjoyed a stellar career at Freds Pass before a brief stint at Darwin.
Hammond’s consistency with bat and ball in the four-year period from 2019-22 played a big part in the Districts’ dominance through those years.
His 407 runs and 26 wickets in their premiership season of 2019 was a case in point.
20 (equal) - Dylan Brasher (Darwin)
Brasher was a worthy co-recipient of the 2022 Ralph Weise medal (which he shared with Waratah’s Ashley Chandrasinghe) after a sensational season.
He started with just 21 runs from his first three innings, but then the Victorian southpaw exploded smashing 845 at 70.42 for the remainder of the year.
His season, which included a 195 against Palmerston, propelled his Eagles outfit into that year’s grand final.
20 (equal) - Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (Nightcliff)
The West Australian left hand bat made an instant impression in his first season at Tigerland, averaging 80 runs in his nine journeys to the batting crease in a 2023 season to remember.
He can bat anywhere in the top order and get runs in a hurry or in his own time, depending on the match situation or his own state of mind.
Hoogenboezam’s 180 from 152 balls against PINT in 2023 was a batting masterpeice, hitting 20 boundaries and three sixes in a big show of class.
19 - Solomon Mire (Waratah)
The Zimbabwean international made a big impression with a cricket bat in his hand during the 2013 and ‘14 seasons with the Red Caps.
The Master Blaster made a brilliant 260 against Southern Districts at Fred’s Pass in 2013 in a season where he scored 955 runs. It was an innings described by people who were there as a major belting.
18 - Dylan Mullen (Sthn Districts)
The perfect example of a promising youngster with the right commitment and work ethic to succeed at his craft, Mullen is now one of Darwin cricket’s best local products.
His 478 runs at close to 37 an innings in 2023 and 29 wickets at 21 with his fast medium bowling are early indicators of his ability.
17 - Ryan Hackney (Waratah)
NSW first class cricketer Ryan Hackney hit Darwin cricket like a meteor in the dry season months of 2023.
While he joined several southerners as brief tourists to the cricketing fields of the Top End over the last 25 years, the 89 runs the classy left hander averaged in that one golden season needs to be remembered.
16 - Brad Hatton (Nightcliff)
A quick glance at Hatton’s bowling record as a fast medium bowler and leadership qualities will be enough to convince fans of his value to club and representative cricket.
His radar-like bowling secured more than 450 Premier Grade wickets in his career at a minimal average of just under 18 runs a wicket.
15 - Corey Kelly (Sthn Districts)
The Districts all-rounder could score quick runs with the bat or grab wickets with his fast bowling if the situation demanded it.
His 396 runs at 57 in the 2022 season played an integral part in Districts run to the premiership and he could always be called on to break a stubborn partnership.
14 - Craig Cachopa (Tracy Village)
Another Kiwi who enjoyed Darwin’s ideal batting conditions in the yellow cap of Tracy Village.
His 926 runs at a touch over 77 an innings in the 2010 season with the Villagers was a highlight on the way to scoring almost 1700 runs at 68 in his Darwin adventure.
13- James Seymour (Waratah)
When all-rounders are discussed in Darwin cricket, the name James Seymour is often brought up for his left-hand opening batting and clever right-arm off spin.
He hit more than 2500 runs in his four seasons with Tahs and spun out more than 100 batters, a fitting return for a superbly skilled player.
12 - Luke Shelton (Darwin)
Shelton’s leadership skills and supreme ability with a bat or a ball in his hand made him a jewel in the crown of the district cricket Eagles.
He won batting and bowling awards by the truckload in his time in Darwin cricket and captained his club to three successive premierships.
Shelton’s 2016 season highlighted his great skills, 780 runs with the bat and 60 wickets at just under 14 runs and a premiership medal.
11 - Shaun Williams (Darwin)
The ultimate professional as a captain and batting all-rounder, the cricketer they called “Rowdy” in his Top End playing days certainly made a lot of noise with bat and ball.
Williams was at the end of his Darwin stint when the 2000s rolled around, but his magnificent left hand batting and accurate right-arm off spin will be remembered for a lot of years at Darwin Cricket Club.
He averaged almost 50 as an opening bat after facing all the fast men, making eight centuries and 18 half centuries in a glorious time at the batting crease.
10 - Tim Garner (PINT/Sthn Districts)
The ultimate professional who has made the maximum use of his batting and bowling crafts across two clubs in the Darwin competition.
Always a tough proposition for bowlers of all sorts, Garner’s contribution with bat and ball was significant, none more so than the 2013 and ‘16 seasons when he made more than 600 runs.
An unbeaten 94 in Districts’ 2022 grand final win over Darwin was another batting highlight.
10 (equal) - Kane Richardson (Waratah/PINT)
A right-arm quick who could seriously bowl known for his pace and movement from a whippy action that has defeated batsman at local, interstate and international level.
He gained selection in Northern Territory, South Australian and Australian underage and senior sides, where his economy rate and ability to take important wickets on regular occasions were big assets.
9 - Udara Weerasinghe (Waratah/Nightcliff/Palmerston)
The Sri Lankan bowling all-rounder has turned out for three clubs and the Northern Territory representative side in a Top End career that has reached the 12-year mark.
Udara’s right-arm off spin has bamboozled batters from the rural area to the Darwin city every season, with his 48 wickets at 20 apiece in 2012 his best haul.
To show it was no fluke the Lion of Sri Lanka took another 142 wickets in the next four seasons to establish himself as one of the greats of NT cricket.
8 (equal) - Tom Andrews (Darwin)
A genuine chip off the old block with his left-arm orthodox spin echoing the deeds of his father David 20 years before.
Made his senior debut with the Eagles at 14 years of age in a journey that has taken him to the first class arena with South Australia and Tasmania.
Tom’s appearances in the Top End have been brief, but his ability to extract turn and bounce from normally placid wickets continues to impress.
8 (equal) - Greg Clarence (PINT)
One of Territory cricket’s greatest run scoring seasons occurred in the 2013 Darwin and Districts season when NSW import Greg Clarence blasted 1128 runs at 112.8 in his 10 trips to the batting crease.
His run fest included a superb 258 against Tracy Village, 198 of those runs coming in boundaries (48 fours and a six).
Clarence’s five centuries in six matches across the Top End steered PINT to a premiership in what was a special season.
7 - Mark Hatton (Nightcliff)
The third brother in Nightcliff’s Hatton trilogy where his left-arm spin took him to the first class arena where he took 28 wickets in shield cricket for Tasmania.
Hatton represented Australia at under-19 level in an early indicator that spin bowling was to be his trade in the game of cricket.
He took more than 400 wickets for the district cricket Tigers at the low average of just under 18.
6 - Stuart Johnstone (Tracy Village)
Johnstone was a classy middle order batter who opposition bowlers hated the sight of when they saw him walking to the crease.
Johnstone always punished tired, wayward bowling, particularly in the 2006 season when he scored 691 runs at a touch under 77 each time he made it to the crease.
5 - Ashley Chandrasinghe (Waratah)
A left-hand opening bat who attracted the attention of Victorian selectors after making five consecutive centuries in the 2022 Darwin and Districts competition for the Red Caps.
His ability to grind out big scores in long stays at the batting crease were his strengths and highlights, averaging more than 90 an innings in 2022 and 74 the season before.
4 - Darren Treumer (Tracy Village/Palmerston)
Any discussions about “Puppy” Treumer must include his superb wicket keeping, where he was the first pick in Territory representative sides for close to 20 years.
A batter who could clout the ball to all parts of the ground or caress it into gaps, Treumer was the genuine article who took his craft very seriously.
His 8000-plus runs over his career, including 13 centuries came from a lot of hard work.
3 (equal) - D’Arcy Short (Palmerston)
Katherine-born Short was a batsman who like to get on with his main task (scoring runs) when he took on all comers in the Darwin competition.
Averaged 50 with the bat in successive seasons (2007 and ‘08) and showed he can bowl left-arm chinamans before moving to Perth where he fuelled his national and international cricketing ambitions.
3 (equal) - Nick Berry (PINT)
NSW cricketer Nick Berry left a big impression on Territory cricket with his ultra-skilful left hand batting and smart right-arm medium pace bowling.
He made almost 6000 runs in the green cap of PINT at a healthy average of just under 52 and 222 wickets at just over 16 runs each.
A well performed representative player, Berry was never flustered as a player and captain at local and state level.
2 - Jake Weatherald (Darwin and Tracy Village)
South Australian and now Tasmanian top order bat Jake Weatherald can lay claim to being one of Territory cricket’s finest exports.
A product of the ultra-successful Darwin Cricket Club junior program of the noughties, Weatherald has developed into one of this country’s most destructive batters.
The big hitting left hander made the 2015 D&DC season his own by belting 1012 runs at 67.5 each time he marked his presence at the batting crease.
His six centuries for the Villagers, including a whirlwind 195 from 226 balls against Waratah at Gardens Oval etched his name into Territory cricket history.
1 - Ken Vowles (Sthn Districts, PINT, Darwin)
The man they call “Vowlsey” was a thrill-a-minute cricketer who could make a century before lunch, a quick-fire 50 in the first hour or grab five or six wickets with his seam bowling, depending on what mood he was in.
Lionised for his century against England at the MCG as an Australian under-19 cricketer in 1989, the fastest scored there until a certain Vivian Richards surpassed it, Vowles preferred the entertainment value in cricket to mere statistics.
A right hand bat and medium pace bowler, he could even bowl left hand if required, such was his versatility.
His 5592 runs at 35.17 with nine centuries and 31 fifties may look like a good ordinary batter’s figures, but for this writer, he was a very special player.
**Apologies to the myriad of talented cricketers who did not make the list for reasons outlined in my opening address. Such were the number of high quality players who have reached Darwin’s shores, developed or showcased their skills up north since the year 2000.
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