Fixture and Squads confirmed for Desert Rose Cup

The Desert Rose Cup is the annual clash between Darwin and Alice Springs best female cricketers, and this year the event will be played at DXC Arena between Friday 20 September – Sunday 22 September.

The event will again be a multi-format series with 3 x T20s and 1 x 40-over fixture.

The Territory’s best women and girls will open the weekend with a T20 fixture on Friday evening under lights, followed by a Saturday T20 double header, before both sides close out the weekend with a Sunday 40 over match.  

Darwin are the reigning Desert Rose champions, claiming a 2-1 series win in 2023 after Alice had previously won the 2022 competition 3-0.  

Friday 20 September: T20 at 6pm to 9pm – DXC Arena #1

Saturday 21 September: T20 at 10am to 1pm – DXC Arena #1

Saturday 21 September: T20 at 5pm to 8pm – DXC Arena #1

Sunday 22 September: 40-over at 10am to 4pm – DXC Arena #1

Confirmation of the fixtures coincides with the announcement of both squads which will be captained by Waratah’s Melissa Short (Darwin) and West’s Bronte Stray (Alice).

Both squads consist of several of the Territory’s best junior female players – including Darwin’s Joanna Picket (TVCC), Ekam Dhillon (TVCC), Jordi O’Toole (PINT) and Naomi McMahon (Palmerston), while Maisie Johnson (Wests), Lara Duncum (Federals) and Zoe Trull (Works Complete Construction CC) will represent the Red Centre. These players will be in contention to represent the NT at the U16 National Championships in January 2025.

Seven of the eight sides competing in the Quality People Women’s Division of the Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition (DDCC) are also represented in a Darwin side that has a good mix of youth and experience, reflecting the strong growth in female cricket within the Territory. Similarly, four of the five sides in the Alice’s Yeperenye Shopping Centre Women’s Competition feature, which includes last year’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ Maggie Johnson (Rovers).

NT Head of Cricket Nick Winter said:

“The Desert Rose Cup reflects NT Cricket’s commitment to growing female pathways, and will provide important match exposure and learning opportunities for the Territory’s best players”.

Darwin Squad for Desert Rose Cup

Alice Squad for Desert Rose Cup