Northern Territory Cricket (NTC) is pleased to announce the selection of a Darwin based Under 16 Female Development Squad in preparation for the 2024 edition of the Junior Women’s Strike League taking place in Darwin in July.
Northern Territory Under 16 Female Development Squad
The 17-Player Squad will further the growth and development of young female cricketers in the Territory as NTC builds toward entering a Northern Territory Female U16s Team in the Cricket Australia Underage National Championships for the first time in 2025.
The squad has promising young talent including PINT left arm quick Jordi O’Tool and Tracy Village tall all-rounder Joanna Pickett. Both girls represented the NT at the 2023 Under 12 School Sport National Championships and have been playing Senior Women’s cricket in Darwin.
Local Territorian Zita Varatharajan (Nightcliff Cricket Club) and West Australian Micayla Roelofse (Nightcliff Cricket Club, Melville Cricket Club) will co-coach both the development squad and the NT Junior Women’s Strike League Team, bringing a wealth of local experience and knowledge to the young squad.
The Development Squad will train together at DXC Arena over 6-weeks and receive increased opportunities to improve skill acquisition and development, participate in higher intensity training, begin cricket focused strength and conditioning, as well as take part in simulated match practice to improve game sense and tactics.
The competition for spots in the final NT Junior Women’s Strike League Team is expected to be healthy, with a number of highly talented female players from Alice Springs also vying for selection.
NT Cricket Coach Development Specialist Dylan Slater is currently leading NT Cricket’s Pathway Programs and expressed excitement about the current crop of female players and increased opportunities on the horizon.
"We have identified a very exciting group of young female players aged 11 to 16 years old, many of whom have already shown enormous talent and potential.
"The challenge for us to now ensure these talented girls get as many quality opportunities as possible to keep progressing, and events like Junior Women’s Strike League are key.”
Female cricket is on the rise in the Northern Territory with women and girls participation at an all-time high. The Northern Territory entered an U12s Girls Team in the School Sport Australia National Championships for the first time in 2023, and the Darwin and Districts Quality People Women’s Grade continues to grow, with 8 teams participating in 2024.
Northern Territory Under 16 Female Squad
|
NAME |
CLUB |
AGE |
SKILL |
|
Aeryn McCormick |
Palmerston |
16 |
RHB, RAF |
|
Ray Clark |
Tracy Village |
16 |
RHB, RAMF |
|
Vishali Bimbral |
Palmerston |
15 |
RHB, RLS |
|
Jemima Anver-Raeck |
Nightcliff |
15 |
RHB, RAMF |
|
Matilda Clemmens |
Nightcliff |
13 |
RHB, RAMF |
|
Joanna Pickett |
Tracy Village |
13 |
RHB, RAF |
|
Elisha Halvorsen |
PINT |
13 |
LHB, LAMF |
|
Eimi Smith |
PINT |
13 |
RHB, RAF |
|
Addi Gallagher |
Palmerston |
13 |
LHB, RAMF |
|
Jordi O'Toole |
PINT |
13 |
LHB, LAF |
|
Charlotte Hill |
PINT |
12 |
RHB, RHMF |
|
Nishie Panchal |
Palmerston |
12 |
RHB, RAF |
|
Ekam Dhillon |
Tracy Village |
12 |
RHB, RAF |
|
Abby Warton |
Waratah |
11 |
RHB, RAMF |
|
Abbie Halvorsen |
PINT |
11 |
RHB, RALS |
|
Sylvie Pritchard |
Nightcliff |
11 |
RHB, RAMF |
|
Sophie Cameron |
Palmerston |
11 |
RHB, RAMF |
Note: The 17-Player Development Squad was selected by former NT Cricket Head of Cricket Darren Treumer and NT Cricket Coach Development Specialist Dylan Slater. Selection was based on a number of considerations including but not limited to (1) Nominations by Clubs; (2) Selection Trial at DXC Arena; (3) Prior Participation in NT Pathway Programs; and (4) Performances in Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition.