Nearly a third of the 2022 Darwin NT Cricket Academy class come from Palmerston Cricket Club

How one Darwin cricket club produced almost a third of the NT’s academy squad for 2022. SEE THE STATS.

THIRTY two of the Territory’s most promising young cricketers have been announced, with nearly a third coming from one club.

Ten Palmerston Cricket Club players have made the cut, including youngsters who tasted senior NT experience last season in Charlie Bignell, Lachlan Gallagher and Jayden Chatto, plus the squad’s only female, Women’s Strike League player Aeryn McCormack.

Palmerston CC junior co-ordinator Briony Gallagher said the club encouraged juniors to play senior cricket and it provided a family-friendly environment.

“We have a very strong junior program,” Gallagher said.

“A lot of our juniors play senior cricket as well, our club really encourages our juniors to play seniors.

“A couple of years ago our A Grade team made the grand final and ten out of the eleven had played juniors at Palmerston, which is massive.”

She also believed it was the only club to have a head junior coach — her husband Adrian.

“He is involved quite heavily in coaching the coaches, making sure they’re up to date with everything they need to be doing,” she said.

Palmerston Cricket Club has 10 juniors in the NT development squad. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Cricket NT pathways specialist Megan White said it showed Palmerston was running an impressive junior program.

“They’re running a good ship out there. Their program is really kicking goals,” White said.

White said some of the current and former squad members had already gone on to play cricket in Queensland and South Australia during the off-season, including Nightcliff’s Nick Wheeler at Tea Tree Gully in SA’s Premier competition.

“A heap of kids have gone interstate to play cricket,” she said.

Chatto is also currently turning out with Port Adelaide and Bignell in Toowoomba.

Meanwhile, Nightcliff also has six representatives and Darwin five in the development squad, including 2021 B Graders Charlie Kemp and Tom Menzies, with the latter playing in Noosa during the off-season.

The 2022 Darwin NT Cricket Academy squad – which ranges from Under 19 to Under 15 players – will assemble for a two-day camp at DXC Arena this weekend.

The academy was first developed in 2019 to help young, emerging talent, with the focus this year on providing specialist training to progress development.

High performance level three coach Brad Murphy and level two coach Dylan Slater will head up the academy this year, with assistance from sports scientist Anthony Hazeldine for strength and conditioning.

SEE WHICH JUNIORS MADE THE CUT:

Source: 2021 My Cricket statistics.

Palmerston

Owen Ferguson

Grades played: Under 15, Women’s Strike League.

326 runs at 27.17 Highest score: 66 v Southern Districts Under 15.

21 wickets at 11.14. Best bowling: 3/15 v Southern Storm Women’s Strike League.

Jordan Clyne

Under 15.

349 runs at 116.33. Highest score: 87 v PINT Under 15.

Five wickets at 29.4. Best bowling: 2/35 v Waratah Under 15.

Jordan Clyne made four half centuries last season. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Brandon McDonnell

C Grade, E Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

606 runs at 27.55. Highest score: 55 v Tracy Village E Grade.

Four wickets at 16. Best bowling: 2/23 v PINT E Grade.

Brandon McDonnell keeps wickets for Palmerston. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Aeryn McCormack

Under 18, Women’s competition, Women’s Strike League.

95 runs at 9.5. Highest score: 18* v Northern Tide Women’s Strike League.

Six wickets at 74.33. Best bowling: 2/17 v Tracy Village Open Women’s Competition.

Aeryn McCormack is the only female included in the development squad. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Lachlan Gallagher

B Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series,

420 runs at 17.5. Highest score: 56 v Waratah Under 18.

27 wickets at 28.52. Best bowling: 3/19 v Waratah Under 18.

Lachlan Gallagher has represented the Territory at Under 15 level. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Tahj Hill

Under 15, E Grade, Invational XI, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

687 runs at 36.16. Highest score: 76 v PINT Under 15.

21 wickets at 16.5. Best bowling: 4/7 v PINT Under 15.

Ethan McKenzie made two half centuries and an unbeaten 49 last season. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Ethan McKenzie

C Grade, E Grade, Under 18, Women’s Strike League.

346 runs at 26.62. Highest score: 64 v Southern Storm Women’s Strike League.

20 wickets at 17.7. Best bowling: 3/18 v Waratah Under 18.

Charlie Bignell has Premier Grade experience. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Charlie Bignell

Premier Grade, T20 League, B Grade, D Grade, E Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

1065 runs at 38.04. Highest score: 74 v Southern Districts Under 18.

31 wickets at 22.77. Best bowling: 3/11 Southern Districts B Grade.

Jayden Chatto has enjoyed senior cricket experience at Palmerston and with Port Adelaide in South Australia. Picture: Jayden Chatto.

Jayden Chatto

B Grade, C Grade, D Grade, E Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

650 runs at 20.31. Highest score: 51 v Darwin Under 18.

58 wickets at 19.83. Best bowling: 6/31 v Tracy Village B Grade.

Waratah's Clancy McCormick shakes hands with Palmerston's Jayden Chatto. Picture: File.

Drae Bamford

Under 15, Women’s Strike League.

453 runs at 45.3. Highest score: 66* v Waratah Under 15.

11 wickets 33.73. Best bowling: 2/28 v Waratah Under 15.

Drae Bamford is a promising Palmerston junior. Picture: Palmerston CC.

Nightcliff

Jai Allman

B Grade, C Grade, Under 18, NT Under 17 Challenge Series, Top End Multicultural Cup.

713 runs at 26.4. Highest score: 62* v Darwin Gold C Grade.

22 wickets at 27.95. Best bowling: 3/13 v Southern Districts Under 18.

Jai Allman sends one down for Northern Tide in the TIO Junior Strike League. Picture: File.

Nick Wheeler

Premier Grade, B Grade, Under 18, NT Under 17 Challenge Series

509 runs at 23.1. Highest score: 122 v Mega Court Indoor Sports NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

11 wickets at 22.82. Best bowling: 2/15 v Darwin A Grade.

Former Waratah junior Nick Wheeler (right) with former Test cricketer Mike Hussey in 2014. Picture: File.

Charlie Smith

Premier Grade, B Grade, Under 18, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

346 runs at 28.8. Highest score: 41* v Tracy Village.

42 wickets at 19.7. Best bowling: 7/9 v University B Grade.

Nightcliff’s Charlie Smith (left) with Sadman Amin. Picture: Josh Spasaro.

Nic Fleming

C Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League.

454 runs at 19.74. Highest score: 66 v Northern Tide Junior Strike League.

26 wickets at 20.5. Best bowling: 4/10 v Southern Districts C Grade

James Hatton

C Grade, Under 15, Junior Strike League, Women’s Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

826 runs at 37.55. Highest score: 116* v PINT Under 16.

30 wickets at 21.4. Best bowling: 4/0 v Nightcliff Under 15.

James Hatton after compiling a century in July, 2021. Picture: Nightcliff Cricket Club.

Damon Krake

Premier Grade, B Grade, C Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

344 runs at 20.24. Highest score: 61* v Southern Districts Under 18.

19 wickets at 38. Best bowling: 3/29 v Southern Districts B Grade.

Darwin

Charlie Kemp

B Grade, Under 18, T20 League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series, Junior Strike League.

757 runs at 37.85. Highest score: 96 v City Cyclones NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

32 wickets at 25.91. Best bowling: 5/21 v Palmerston Under 18.

Max Menzies

C Grade, D Grade, E Grade, Under 15, Women’s Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series, Invitational XI.

795 runs at 53. Highest score: 85 v PINT Under 15.

41 wickets at 21.29. Best bowling: 3/7 v University Knights D Grade.

Tom Menzies was selected for the Storm last season. Picture: Darwin Cricket Club.

Tom Menzies

Premier League, B Grade, D Grade, Under 18, T20 League, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

650 runs at 29.55. Highest score: 74 v Southern Districts Under 18.

39 wickets at 18.15. Best bowling: 4/19 v Waratah Under 18.

Tom Menzies (left) gets some tips from Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas in 2016. Picture: File.

Wil Pilkington

Premier League, B Grade, C Grade, Under 18, NT Under Challenge Series.

981 runs at 57.71. Highest score: 103 v Palmerston C Grade.

27 wickets at 26.78. Best bowling: 3/12 v Waratah Under 18.

Wil Pilkington (right) was the club’s Graham Benjamin medallist in 2020. Picture: Darwin Cricket Club.

Ralph Stephens

E Grade, Under 15, Women’s Strike League, SST U13.

450 runs at 37.5. Highest score: 60* v Nightcliff Under 15.

11 wickets at 36.64. Best bowling: 3/7 v Nightcliff Under 15.

Ralph Stephens was a junior club champion at Darwin CC in 2020. Picture: Darwin Cricket Club.

Tracy Village

Zayden Lewis

165 runs at 20.62. Highest score: 43 v Palmerston Under 18.

Nine wickets at 10.22. Best bowling: 3/20 v Darwin Under 18.

Zayden Lewis is a promising Tracy Village junior. Picture: Tracy Village Cricket Club.

Jaxon Treumer

520 runs at 24.76. Highest score: 89* v Waratah Under 18.

29 wickets at 25.45. Best bowling: 3/17 v Palmerston Under 18.

Jaxon Treumer after making 110* in June, 2019. Picture: Tracy Village Cricket Club.

Tye Beer

643 runs at 80.38. Highest score: 87 v PINT Under 12.

26 wickets at 6.7. Best bowling: 3/0 v Waratah Under 12.

Daniel Christianson

183 runs at 45.75. Highest score: 56 v Nightcliff Under 18.

Daniel Christianson made two unbeaten fifties last season. Picture: Tracy Village CC.

Waratah

Bevan Maher

Under 18.

382 runs at 19.1. Highest score: 63 v Southern Districts C Grade.

Four wickets at 46. Best bowling: 2/21 v Tracy Village Under 18.

Hugo Matthias

B Grade, C Grade, Under 18.

265 runs at 13.95. Highest score: 38 v Darwin Under 18.

25 wickets at 27.32. Best bowling: 2/10 v Nightcliff C Grade.

Allrounder Hugo Matthias played three B Grade games in 2021. Picture: Waratah CC.

Archie McCormick

Premier Grade, B Grade, D Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, Women’s Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

514 runs at 23.36. Highest score: 82* v Darwin Under 18

33 wickets at 24.15. Best bowling: 3/15 v University C Grade.

Archie McCormick had a solid season in 2021 with bat and ball. Picture: Waratah CC.

Max Wilson

C Grade, D Grade, Under 18, Under 15.

294 runs at 26.73. Highest score: 48* v PINT Under 15.

28 wickets at 18.96. Best bowling: 3/5 v Palmerston Under 15.

Thenuka Jayasekara Gamage.

B Grade, C Grade, D Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

506 runs at 22. Highest score: 48 v Tracy Village Under 18.

Eleven wickets at 41.18. Best bowling: 2/19 v Nightcliff Black D Grade.

Thenuka Jayasekara Gamage clips one down to fine leg for Waratah. Picture: Waratah CC.

Southern Districts

Josh Gawthorpe.

C Grade, Under 18, Junior Strike League, NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

741 runs at 35.29. Highest score: 103* v Northern Tide Junior Strike League.

32 wickets at 26.78. Best bowling: 4/10 v Desert Blaze NT Under 17 Challenge Series.

Josh Gawthorpe (far right) played in the Junior Strike League last season. Picture: File.

Josh Cooper

C Grade.

582 runs at 22.38. Highest score: 112* v Southern Districts White C Grade.

15 wickets at 19.27. Best bowling: 4/34 v Waratah C Grade.