Has the DDCC proven itself as a legitimate pathway for professional cricketers?
In the past decade Darwin's cricket competition has served as a stepping stone for 20 professional players, including several who went on to represent Australia. Find out who they are here.
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Has the Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition started to become a proper path way for young and aspiring talent?
There’s been no shortage of big name players making cameos in the competition throughout the years – Brendon McCullum in 2002, Richie Robinson in the 1990s and Jordan Silk in 2011 to name a few.
However, it wasn’t until the past 15 years and more noticeably the past 10 where cricketers south, east and west of the border have spent some time in the competition.
Held in the Dry Season – winter for everybody else – the competition is the perfect place for players to land during the ‘off-season’, getting valuable runs and overs into their legs.
Off the back of the recent Australia A vs. Sri Lanka First-Class and List A Series in Darwin that featured four current and former DDCC players, we have trawled through the history books and picked 20 players who spent time in the DDCC during the infancy of their career, or a rut between 2015-2025.
See who they are below.
Pros who’ve played in the DDCC (2015-25)
BEAU WEBSTER (Darwin C.C.)
The towering Tasmanian played 13 matches for the Eagles in 2021 across the T20, One and Two-Day competitions. The Test all-rounder found his touch with the willow scoring 525 total runs at a monster 75 run average, and made three 50s with a high score of 79. With the ball he took 11 wickets, at an average of 29.18, took best figures of 3/42 and took 14 catches in the field.
NATHAN MCSWEENEY (PINT C.C)
The South Australian captain spent time in Darwin back in 2017. Still a teenager, the former Test opener played 11 matches across the One and Two-Day competitions. McSweeney scored 411 total runs, a 111 high score, averaged 37.36 with the bat and made one 100 and three 50s. McSweeney also found fortune with his spin, taking 20 wickets at 19.85 with best figures of 4/55.
TODD MURPHY (Tracy Village C.C.)
Murphy has had two stints for the Village across 2019 and 2022. A 19-year-old in his first season, the spinner took 19 poles in five matches at an average of 17.95, with best figures of 7/38. In his second stint – also five matches – Murphy took 12 wickets at a lowly 8.75 with best figures of 4/15. Murphy went on to play for Australia following his time in the Top End.
JASON SANGHA (Waratah C.C.)
The recent captain of Australia A during their four-day two-match series against Sri Lanka A, Sangha played for the Warriors in 2023. Sangha played seven matches across the T20 and Two-Day campaign. He scored a total of 162 runs at an average of 32.4, scoring the lone 50 for a 69 high score. Sangha also took eight poles at an average of 10.75 and recorded best figures of 3/24.
JAKE WEATHERALD (Darwin C.C. & Tracy Village C.C.)
A Darwin local, Weatherald played his junior cricket at Darwin between 2008 to 2014.
In 44 matches Weatherald scored 1118 runs, at an average of 29.42 with one ton and seven 50s. He was a menace in the field recording nine catches with the gloves, 15 catches in the field, 10 run-outs and seven stumpings. Weatherald defected to the Village for 24 matches across 2015-17 where he posted some monster numbers. In 29 innings he scored 1556 runs at 62.24 with a high score of 195, and made eight tons as well as five 50s. He continued his work behind the stumps with 19 catches, two run-outs and three stumpings. Weatherald returned to the Eagles in 2025 for seven matches ahead of his Australia A call-up. In six innings he’s scored 303 runs at 60.6 with a high score of 183*, and has taken six catches in the field.
D’ARCY SHORT (Palmerston C.C. & Waratah C.C.)
The man from Katherine was a weapon in his youth for Palmerston before making it on the national stage. As a youth Short played 36 matches for the maroon outfit before returning for four matches across the 2016 and 17 season. In total, he scored 1172 runs in 23 innings at 50.96 with a high score of 196. He made four tons and five 50s. The former Australian representative also took 20 wickets at 21.6 at a 4.21 economy.
TOM ANDREWS (Darwin C.C.)
The most recent success story to come out of the DDCC, Andrews, a local who moved away to SA as a teenager to further his career, returned to his boyhood club in 2017 and 2021 for a total of 13 matches. In total, the new Sydney Thunder recruit took 119 wickets at 13.6 and scored a total of 1467 runs at 28.41.
JOSH BROWN (Nightcliff C.C.)
Before bursting onto the BBL scene with the Brisbane Heat, Brown was spending his time in Darwin with the Tigers. Across two seasons, 202 and 2023, the opener was a menace. In ‘22, Brown played 27 matches scoring 1076 runs across all formats. He scored 12 50s at an average of 56.63 and had a high score of 89. He also took six wickets and made 18 catches in the field. In ‘23 Brown played 11 matches, scoring 353 total runs at an average of 39.22 and hit a high score of 117. He took 13 poles with best figures of 4/11 and made six catches and was a major part of Nightcliff’s One-Day flag.
ASHLEY CHANDRASINGHE (Waratah C.C. & Nightcliff C.C.)
The Victorian Shield player had one of the most dominant seasons ever in the history of the competition back in 2022 when he made five consecutive centuries for the Warriors. Over three seasons (2020-22) Chandrasinghe totalled 1978 runs in 36 innings at 70.94, made seven 100s and six 50s and hit a high score of 172 and took 19 catches in the field. After his time with the Tah’s, Chandrasinghe earned a call up from the Victorians where he has gone on to feature 13 times.
LOUIS SMITH (Southern Districts C.C.)
In the midst of his first season of DDCC, the Tasmanian came to the Top End ahead of his Australia A debut series. In two matches he has bowled just 14 overs for one wicket.
DYLAN BRASHER (Darwin C.C. & Nightcliff C.C.)
The former Victoria 2nd XI captain and recent recipient of a full state contract Brasher really came into his own while in Darwin. In 2022 Brasher played 27 matches for the Eagles across all three formats. In 23 innings he scored a total of 1177 runs at 53.5 and top scored with a 195, and made five 100s and as many 50s. With the ball Brasher took 23 wickets at 18.95, took 11 catches and made two run outs.
DOUWTJIE HOOGENBOEZEM (Nightcliff C.C.)
For the past four seasons the WACA Premier Cricketer has made a name for himself at the Tigers. Hoogenboezem amassed 1279 runs last season across all competitions and was the 2023 DDCC second highest run scorer with 720 runs at 80. In total, across 48 matches and all formats, Hoogenboezem has scored 2106 runs at an average of 50.14, with an imperious 277 high score. He’s also a handy part timer with 15 wickets and has taken 28 catches in the field. As a result of this form, Hoogenboezem recently signed with South Australia for the upcoming 2025/26 season.
ANTUM NAQVI (Tracy Village C.C., Waratah C.C. & PINT C.C.)
Boasting 153 matches across three different clubs and 10 seasons (2010-20), Naqvi made a name for himself in the Top End before securing a full time gig in first-class cricket in Zimbabwe. A batting all-rounder, Naqvi scored a total of 3060 runs with 15 50s, four 100s and a high score of 131. He also recorded 158 total wickets with best figures of 5/19 and took 42 catches in the field. Since 2022 Naqvi has earned 18 First-class, 22 List A and 12 T20 for the Mid West Rhinos.
RYAN HACKNEY (Waratah C.C & Nightcliff C.C.)
A formally contracted NSW player up until this year, Hackney spent two seasons in the DDCC across 19 matches. For the Warriors in 2023 the left-handed bat amassed 896 runs in 15 innings at a terrific 81.45 average, making four tons and two 50s with a high score of 156.
JAKE DORAN (Tracy Village C.C.)
Doran, Tasmania’s current Shield keeper and Hurricane, played seven matches for Tracy in 2018 during the off-season. Across the One and Two-Day formats he totalled 223 runs at 31.58 with a high score of 115.
JAMES SEYMOUR (Waratah C.C.)
The all-rounder spent a large chunk of time in the Darwin competition before breaking into the state competition. Between 2014-20 Seymour played 110 matches for the Warriors across T20, One and Two-Day. Seymour racked up 4630 runs at an average of 41.34, scoring 11 100s and 20 50s with a high score of 177. With the ball Seymour took 171 scalps at 21.61 with best figures of 8/46 and made 54 catches in the field as well as 10 run outs.
LACHLAN BANGS (PINT C.C. & Southern Districts C.C.)
The all-rounder has had two separate stints in the DDCC for two clubs – PINT in 2021 and Districts in 2024. Bangs scored 845 accumulative runs with two 100s and as many 50s and took 28 wickets to go with his 21 catches in the field. Bangs is currently playing for the Boca Raton Trailblazers in the MAX60 Caribbean T20 league.
JOSHUA KANN (Tracy Village C.C.)
The former BBL player spent two seasons with the Village between 2021-22. An all-rounder, Kann found form with the bat scoring a total of 1242 runs at 36.53, hit three tons and eight 50s and hit a high score of 162. Kann took 36 wickets at 26.08, had best figures of 6/9 and took 17 catches as well as four run-outs in the field. Kann is also currently playing for the Boca Raton Trailblazers in the MAX60 Caribbean T20 league.
CAMERON BANCROFT (PINT C.C.)
In what was a unique case, Bancroft played two matches for PINT back in 2018 – while in the NT for the T20 Strike League – following his clearance to play grade cricket by Cricket Australia after the ball-tampering scandal. Bancroft batted once scoring 22 and took two catches behind the stumps as well as a run-out and a stumping.
JHYE RICHARDSON (Nightcliff C.C.)
The West Australian played just the single One-Day match for the Tigers in 2019 following his recovery from dislocating his bowling shoulder playing in the UAE four months prior. Bowling 10 overs, Richardson took figures of 1/67 and scored 35 with the bat.
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