NT Cricket fails to enter sides into National Indigenous Cricket compeititon

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships is underway, but will be without host side Northern Territory despite the region’s strong history in Indigenous sport. Read the reactions.

Picture: Charlie Lowson/NT Cricket.

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships will take place in Alice Springs for its seventh edition, however frustrations have flared up as hosts Northern Territory have not entered a side.

After a poor showing in the 2023 competition and lacking nominations, NT Cricket decided not to put a team forward in either the men’s or women’s comps.

The event which takes place as part of the Imparja Cup, has long been a celebration of Indigenous cricket, particularly for the Northern Territory.

And the lack of representation hasn’t gone down well in the local playing community.

NT Indigenous cricket stalwart Darrell Lowe was furious at the omission of the team, saying it was indicative of a long running issue.

Lowe is one of the most decorated NT Indigenous players, and said it was a slap in the face not to have a side representing the home Territory in the 2024 event.

He feared the lack of an NT team would ruin the popularity of the contest among the local community which loved the sport.

“The frustration is huge because my people love cricket, I’d like to know how many supporters they get now there’s not a local team,” Lowe said.

“I can vouch for my players and my boys, we play that tournament hard and even if we’re not there on the final day we’ll make a fun day of it as a team.

“I’m devastated about this, I’ve put leave in every year for 20 years for this, paying my own way to play.”

A player at the crease during the 2024 NICC in Alice Springs. Picture: Charlie Lowson/NT Cricket.

NT Cricket chief executive Gavin Dovey said the decision had not come easy and followed attempts to gather nominations for the team.

Dovey was only four weeks into his tenure when last year’s tournament began, and quickly realised an issue with the side.

“The bottom line is we didn’t have enough players of a suitable standard that expressed interest and nominated to play,” Dovey said.

“It’s really disappointing, but it’s the reality of it, we went to quite a lot of effort over the past three or four months including seeking support from clubs to put ourselves in the best possible situation.

“When I arrived last year, the men’s side had four or five players over 45 years of age, and a couple of guys from the ACT, which isn’t the type of team that should be entered into this NICC.

“There’s a rich history in this competition, and the NT has been able to field very competitive teams in the past, but there’s an uncomfortable reality from last year and this year a lot of work is needed to get back to that point.

“There might be players out there that are good enough, but if they’re not playing club cricket or nominating then we can’t select them.

“We’re going to have to reset, we’re going to make the best of what we have, and try and find a way to get more funding into our Indigenous cricket program so we aren’t in this situation for very long.”

Lowe said there needed to be a way for NT Indigenous cricketers to get more support, because he had lost trust in some elements of NT Cricket.

“Preparation and support for that side has been garbage since the start, we don’t get our own jerseys and infrastructure has always lacked for us,” he said.

“The selection at the Imparja Cup last year was like they wanted to cut it out, it’s like they wanted to do what they’ve done this year, and just say NT Indigenous cricketers aren’t good enough.

“We want to be heard, why do teams from NSW get 14 support staff, but we can’t even field 11 players to represent us?”

Alice Springs (22-28 Feb, 2024)

State/Territory Team Lists:

Tasmania

MEN

Toby Bellchambers - Devonport Cricket Club

Brodie Deverell - Wilmot Cricket Club

Kayden Deverell - Wilmot Cricket Club

Brayden Devries - Greater Northern Raiders

Johnty Devries - Penguin Cricket Club

Rhys French - Ulverstone Cricket Club

Jacob Goodsell - Lindisfarne Cricket Club

Toby Hutton - Ulverstone Cricket Club

Brandon Kopper - Glenorchy Cricket Club

Ben Spinks - Greater Northern Raiders

Lachlan Nichols - Lindisfarne Cricket Club

Jack Pearce - Ulverstone Cricket Club

Ben Spinks - Greater Northern Raiders

Trent Steven - Devonport Cricket Club

Coaches: Alex King and Will Thompson

Cultural Advisor: Guy Grey

Tasmanian Umpire Representative: Scott Pearce

WOMEN

Tayla Wigg - South Hobart Sandy Bay CC (Representing Tasmania playing for Victoria)

* No team

Western Australia

MEN

Jay Collard (c) – Rockingham Mandurah District Cricket Club

Brock Larance (vc) – Willetton District Cricket Club

Cody Hoffmeister – Bayswater Morley District Cricket Club

Clint Hinchcliffe – Mt Lawley District Cricket Club

Elijah Dare – South Perth District Cricket Club

Hayden Collins – Midland Guildford District Cricket Club

Hugh Sando – Fremantle Mosman Cricket Club

Koby Jackson – Mt Lawley District Cricket Club

James Eatt – Subiaco Floreat District Cricket Club

Max Ireland – Collie Cricket Club

Michael Bailey – South Perth District Cricket Club

Tyler McMiles – South Perth District Cricket Club

Tyrell Stewart – Mines Cricket Club

Yagan Walley – Shoalwater Cricket Club

Coach – Jermaine Davis Senior

Manager – Marsh Jackson

Player Mentor – Zoe Goss

WOMEN

Veronica Keen (c) – Midland Guildford District Cricket Club

Alicia Roe – Fremantle Mosman Cricket Club

Bianca Harben – Fremantle Mosman Cricket Club

Candice Franklin – Curtin Victoria Park Cricket Club

Charlotte Toohey – Melville District Cricket Club

Destiny Mippy – Perth District Cricket Club

Elsie Simpson – Melville District Cricket Club

Emily Bowden – Karratha Cricket Club

Emma-Lee Hammond – Melville District Cricket Club

Montana Campbell – Fremantle Mosman Cricket Club

Regina Deleeuw – South Perth District Cricket Club

Seren Simpson – Melville District Cricket Club

Roberta Ramirez-Smith – South Hedland Cricket Club

Coach – Michael Bailey

Manager – Lenny Papertalk

Assistant Coach – Tia Hatch

Player Mentor – Zoe Goss OAM

New South Wales

MEN

Marty Jeffrey - Tubba Gar Wiradjuri / RSL Colts Dubbo

Lesley Smith - Biripi & Dunghutti / Warnavale CC

Austyn Nugent - Wiradjuri / St Kilda CC

Jack Hartigan - Gundungurra / St George DCC

Damien Duroux - Gumbaynggirr / North West Sydney CC

Patrick Rosser - Wiradjuri / Cugden CC

Brett Russell - Dunghutti & Biripi / Warnavale CC

Kobe Ross - Kaiwalagal / Sutherland CC

Evan Pitt - Western Arrarnta / Parramatta DCC

Ben Patterson - Wiradjuri / CYMS DubboNT

Ethan Fitzpatrick - Ngunnawal / Ginninderra CC

Max Farmer - Wonnarua / Fairfield Liverpool CC

Brendan Smith (c) - Dunghutti / Campbelltown Camden CC

Blake Smith - Wiradjuri / Campbelltown Camden CC

Coach - Jeff Cook - Kamilaroi

Manager - Anthony Kershler

WOMEN

Aimee Ravot - Wiradjuri / Penrith CC

Anika Learoyd - Gumbaynggirr / Campbelltown Camden CC

Callee Black - Wiradjuri / Penrith CC

Dharmini Chauhan - Wiradjuri / Bankstown CC

Hannah Darlington - Kamilaroi / Campbelltown Camden CC

Julie Muir (c) - Wiradjuri / Campbelltown Camden CC

Sasha Croft - Gurindji, Malgnin & Mudpurra / St George-Sutherland DCC

Mackenzie Keeler - Kamilaroi

Maddison Spence - Wiradjuri / Bankstown CC

Piper Hooke - Northeast Wiradjuri / Northern Districts CC

Roxsanne Van-Veen - Gundungurra / Western Lithgow CC

Sara Darney - Wiradjuri / Wellington DCC

Taleha Urszulak - Wadi Wadi/Dharawal / Campbelltown Camden CC

Coach - Kerry Marshall

Manager - Hannah Trethewy

Queensland

MEN

Ashley White - Norths Cairns Cricket Club

Banjo Seaniger - Metropolitan Easts Toowoomba Cricket Club

Cruz Baker - Norths District Cricket Club

Daley Martin - Norths District Cricket Club

Dylan Mclachlan - Valley District Cricket Club

Ethan Du Payne - Valley District Cricket Club

Jaecob Prien - Western Suburbs Townsville Cricket Club

Jake Coolwell - Toombul District Cricket Club

Jake Turner - Norths District Cricket Club

Jamieson Allen - Clermont Bulls Cricket Club

Kodi Gilbert - Bracken Ridge Cricket Club

Lachlan Mark - Toombul District Cricket Club

Noah Vojinov - South Brisbane District Cricket Club

Steve Roser - Gracemere Cricket Club

Coach - Michael Prien

Assistant Coach - Dylan Blackman

Manager - Adrian Coolwell

WOMEN

Carys Underwood - Sunshine Coast Cricket Club

Christina Coulson - Valley District Cricket Club

Clodagh Ryall - Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club

Courtney Fewquandie - Valley District Cricket Club

Emily Wilson - Sandgate Redcliffe District Cricket Club

Grace Abdy - Valley District Cricket Club

Grace Warson - Caboolture Cricket Club

Kameryn Bray - Wynnum Manly Cricket Club

Lucy Neumann - Gold Coast District Cricket Club

Mikayla Hinkley - Valley District Cricket Club

Shareene Mcguinness - Valley District Cricket Club

Tamika Hansen - Norths Cairns Cricket Club

Temeika Wilson - Toombul District Cricket Club

Tracee Williamson - Sarina Cricket Club

Coach - Ashley Renouf

Assistant Coach - Bradley Stout

Manager - Tamika Hansen

Victoria

MEN

Wade King (c)

Jhiah Baxter

Jacob Bourke

Luke Chandler

Jakob Devine

Josh Devine

Ryan Donovan

Nathan Gardiner

Luke Giblett

Kane Hawkins

Pat Jackson

Alex Kerr

Josh Nanson

Bailey Toseland

WOMEN

Ella Hayward (c)

Taya Barnett

Shawana Brown

Simone Burridge

Tya Fry

Fiona Hale

Roslyn Hynes

Karen Kerr

Jessica Martin

Tahlia Meier

Brooke Nam

Rose Stewart

Jacintha Tass

Taylor Wigg

South Australia

MEN

Andrew Miller

Brodie Cameron

Ayden McGregor-Baptista

Jake Calgie

Jack Coppins

Tyler Latham

Lian Beckett

Scott Brenton Graham

Connor Mcmillan

Liam Connors

Jackson Gillespie

Logan Clifton

WOMEN

*No team

Northern Territory

MEN

*No team

WOMEN

*No team

Australian Capital Territory

MEN

*No team

WOMEN

*No team