NT Cricket’s Pathway and Development Coach Trent Keep will join the Australia A coaching group for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka A. He will work alongside former Australian captain and current Adelaide Strikers Coach Tim Paine, who has been appointed Head Coach for the tour.
Paine is no stranger to Territory cricket, having previously served as an Assistant Coach for the NT Strike Top End Series, and now returns to Darwin to lead the Australia A team.
The five-match multi-format series will be held in Darwin from 4 July to 23 July 2025 at Marrara Cricket Ground (DXC Arena) and Marrara Stadium (TIO Stadium). (Fixture Details Here)
Keep joins the tour as Development Coach alongside national pace bowling Coach Adam Griffith and Australian Women’s Team Assistant Coach Scott Prestwidge.
His selection reflects the Territory’s growing footprint in national high-performance circles.
“I’m really proud, more so for the whole organisation,” Keep said. “I’m quite new to the Territory, but it’s great for Gav and Nick to see our staff being recognised and contributing at this level.”
Since joining NT Cricket, Keep has led the Territory Academy program and coached local squads in notable fixtures. His dynamic, energy-driven coaching style has emerged as a key element in NT Cricket’s development pathway.
“My coaching style won’t change. I'll bring that same authentic energy. I’m obviously there for a reason, or because they think I have a skill set that could be valuable, so I think it’s about turning up and doing the same stuff over and over"
Keep said he’s also eager to grow through the experience and exchange ideas with others in the national set-up. “I'm sure I'll learn from the players and the other staff that there are 1000 different ways to go about it and I'm looking forward to having those conversations as well.”
The Australia A squad includes exciting emerging talent such as Test batter Nathan McSweeney, who has previously captained the ‘A’ side and a host of promising pace bowlers. The squad also features standout performers from the recent Sheffield Shield season: Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson
The series offers Territory fans a unique opportunity to witness Australia’s future internationals live in Darwin.
NT Cricket Head of Cricket Nick Winter added: “We’re incredibly proud of Trent and the contribution he’s already making to cricket in the Northern Territory. This is a great opportunity for him, and a great story for NT Cricket.”