All you need to know: National Indigenous Cricket Championships

Tournament details

What: Men's & Women's National Indigenous Cricket Championships

When:  April 2-7 2025. Matches starting at 9:30am, 2pm or 6:30pm

Where: Harrup Park, Mackay

How to watch: Finals broadcast on NITV, cricket.com.au and CA Live app on April 7.

Live scores: Men's final and Women's final via the Match Centre. Other matches via PlayHQ

How to get tickets: entry to the competition is free and no ticket is required!

Australia's most talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers will come together to showcase their skills as the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC) returns next month.

The tournament will be played on Yuwibara Country in Mackay, with the Great Barrier Reef Arena and Harrup Park hosting five days of cricketing fiesta.

A total of 11 teams will be in action in the T20 tournament that will have seven men's sides and four women's sides vying for the national titles.

Additionally, players will be looking to impress to take a spot on the men's and women's sides that will be selected for a tour of Vanuatu in May.

What is it?

The NICC is part of Australian cricket's elite development pathway, and this will be the ninth year it is played as a stand-alone tournament, having previously been a division in Imparja Cup – Northern Territory's premier competition for Indigenous cricket with a history of more than 30 years.

This is the first time the NICC will be played outside the Arrernte Country in Mparntwe, Alice Springs, where the first eight editions were hosted.

The competition aims to grow the representation of Indigenous cricketers at the highest level of the sport. It has been part of the cricketing journeys of Australian internationals Ash Gardner, D'Arcy Short and Hannah Darlington and has seen participation from several Big Bash players.

When does it start?

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships begin on Wednesday, April 2 with the Final to be played on Monday, April 7.

What's the format?

The men's and women's competitions will run simultaneously but the way they will work is different.

Every men's team will play each of the other six sides once and the two best performing teams will make it to the final. The women's competition will have semi-finals after the four teams have played each other twice. The top women's side will take on the fourth team on the rankings, while the second and third-placed sides face off against each other.

There's a day for rest and cultural activities scheduled on April 5. The women's semi-finals will be played on April 6 and the two finals on April 7, with the women's game at 9:30am to be followed by the men's game at 2:00pm.

How can I watch?

The NICC is an open to public and non-ticketed event and cricket fans in Mackay can drop down to support the teams. Food and beverage options will be available for the attendees at Harrup Park.

The fixtures and scores for the tournament can be accessed via PlayHQ for Men's here and Women's here.

The Finals will be broadcast on NITV, as well as streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app. Streaming details for other matches will be announced later.

Who are the contenders?

Last year's champions New South Wales will be the team to beat in the women's competition. The side finished with six wins from six games before defeating Queensland in the final.

Queensland will be looking to go one better, while Victoria and Western Australia will be hoping to improve on last year's performance, where both sides finished with a solitary win.

Northern Territory make a return to the men's competition after missing it last season. They join New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and defending champions Western Australia.

WA have been one of the most successful sides in the men's competition along with NSW, who had completed a four peat before finishing as runners-up last year.

Women's Squads

New South Wales: Cadence Waters, Marnee Walters, Piper Hooke, Roxsanne Van-Veen, Sasha Croft, Tayah McVittie, Zaylia Page, Zoe Flemming, Aimee Ravot, Callee Black, Julie Muir, Taleha Urszulak, Maddison Spence

Queensland: Christina Coulson, Clodagh Ryall, Dharmini Chauhan, Grace Abdy, Tamika Hansen, Lucy Neumann, Jessica Martin, Grace Warcon, Tracee Williamson, Carys Underwood, Tameika Wilson, Delyse Laycock, Juliette Wenitong

Victoria: Merinda Hale, Jaide Anthony, Annabelle Glossop, Tahlia Meir, Rose Stewart, Tya Fry, Jacintha Tass, Kareena Jacobsen-Logan, Taylah Blacklaw, Brooke Nam, Shawana Brown, Molly Ward, Crystal West, Taya Barnett

Western Australia: Veromica Keem (c), Jahlira Knight, Regina Deleeuw, Montanna Campbell, Charlotte Toohey, Candice Franklin, Emma Lee Hammond, Seren Simpson, Elsie Simpson, Mikayla Hinkley, Freodora Garlett, Amelia Whiteman, Emily Ramirez

Men's Squads

Northern Territory: Lachlan Dunemann (Kalkadoon) (c), Allister Young (Yawuru/Yamitji), Ayden Allan (Walpiri), Benjamin Stares (Dharug & Dharawal), Bradley Ilott (Arrernte), Daniel Fett (Jawoyn), Matthew Groves (Ngarrindjeri), Djarrin Stuart (Arrernte), Greg Louis (Arrernte), Harrison Johnny (Garawa Waanyi), Sam Richards (Ngiyampaa), Shane Buttfield (Kamilaroi), Steven Roser (Wuli Wuli), Brayden Dunbar (Milikapiti)

New South Wales: Brendan Smith, James Whiting, Les Smith, Austyn Nugent, Evan Pitt, Pat Rosser, Tyran Liddiard, Brett Russell, Kobe Ross, Luca Croft, Ethan Fitzpatrick, Ben Mitchell, Ben Patterson, Kaine Balgowan

Queensland: Cruz Baker, Ethan DuPayne, Zac Patel, Dylan McLachlan, Darcy Graham, Noah Vojinov, Jacob Turner, Jamison Allan, Matt Dalton, Banjo Seaniger, Brad Radford, Cody Filewood, Jaecob Prien

South Australia: Jack Coppins (c), Jake Calgie, Brodie Cameron, Jackson Gillespie, Andrew Miller, Logan Clifton, Liam Connors, Connor McMillan, Harry Sullivan, Tyler Latham, Keynan Harradine, Bailey Thompson, Michael Burgoyne, Steven Warrior

Tasmania: Brandon Kopper, Ben Spinks, Lachlan Nichols, Rhys French, Jack Pearce, Kane Lovell, Toby Bellchambers, Brayden Devries, Toby Hutton, Eli Sheean, Russi Sturzaker, Hayden Clark, Lucas Kamaric. Head coach: Harry Allanby. Assistant coaches/cultural support: Guy Grey, Scott Pearce

Victoria: Kane Hawkins, Jhiah Barker, Brenden Miller, Will Marks, Wade King, Jakob Devine, Josh Nanson, Pat Jackson, Clay McCartney, Joshua Ward, Nathan Gardiner, Jacob Bourke, Tyler Nanson

Western Australia: Blade Holliway, Rhaiarn Jak Cox, Hayden Collins, Elijah Dare, Lachlan Famlonga, Nathan Ellett, Tahj Basford, Cody Hoffmeister, Jay Collard, Hugh Sando, Yagan Walley, Brock Larance, Clinton Hinchcliff