Northern Territory Cricket is thrilled to announce the fourth edition of the Top End T20 Series sponsored by Tourism NT will take place in Darwin from 14-24 August, capping a watershed year for the sport in the Territory.
A record 4 international cricket teams will travel to Darwin to compete alongside 6 inter-state domestic teams and the NT Strike, with a record 36 T20 fixtures to be played across 5 venues including DXC Arena, TIO Stadium, Gardens Oval, Cazaly’s Arena and Freds Pass.
Tourism NT returns as naming rights partner for a second-straight year, with the event providing a highly visible and marketable platform in which to promote the Territory as a unique must visit destination to a global audience. The 2024 Top End T20 Series was broadcast to over 129 countries around the world, achieving a unique audience of 1.3m people and a total viewership of 12.8m.
Cricket is now the second most popular sport in the world with over 2 billion fanatical fans. Billions of dollars of private investment is fuelling T20 franchise cricket in traditional markets like India and England, as well as emerging markets such as the US, Canada, South America and the Middle East. The sport’s return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 a further testament to cricket’s growing global influence and scale.
NT Cricket CEO, Gavin Dovey:
"We created the Top End T20 Series in 2021 as part of a national winter cricket concept, Cricket 365, that showcases the Territory as the only place in Australia that plays cricket all year round.
"The event has grown exponentially since then. We’ve more than doubled the number of teams participating, we’ve welcomed international teams from across the globe, and we’ve watched our broadcast audience increase threefold from 4m people to over 12m total viewers.
"We are thrilled to welcome back Tourism NT as a partner for this unique event and look forward to leveraging our shared passion for marketing, promoting and attracting visitors to this incredible part of our country."
Cricket Australia CEO, Todd Greenberg:
"The Top End T20 Series continues to go from strength to strength. There is no doubt that the next generation of players around the world are looking for more T20 playing opportunities so this event has great potential.
“Sports need to keep being innovative and evolving, so the chance to play elite cricket in the winter and all-year round is a unique opportunity for our sport and one we’re keen to keep supporting."
Department of Tourism and Hospitality CEO Suzana Bishop:
"This is a huge year for cricket in the Northern Territory with Darwin hosting two historic T20 International matches between Australia and South Africa on 10 and 12 August followed by a bumper Top End T20 Series from 14-24 August, which Tourism NT is proud to support.
"These events held back-to-back during the Top End dry season provide the perfect opportunity for visitors to get their fix of top-level cricket, stay longer and experience Darwin and surrounds from Litchfield National Park’s waterfalls to our vibrant foodie scene."
August in the Top End is shaping up as cricket's ultimate winter getaway.
A full 2025 Top End T20 Series fixture and list of teams participating will be announced shortly.