NT Cricket’s Mid-Year Carnival is an important step in the player pathway to Northern Territory representation. In 2011, the Mid-Year Carnival welcomed a new high performance structure with the introduction of lead-in competition Spud Allen Shield. From this program, NT Cricket and DDCC junior selectors select players and teams to represent the Top End at the Mid Year Carnival in July.
The competition targets three age groups; Under 13 Years, Under 15 Years and Under 17 Years and includes four Northern Territory regions - Rays, Sharks, Bulls and Alice Springs. Interstate teams may be included in the competition on an invitational basis.