Home Grown Stars Return for Top End T20 Series

Northern Territory Cricket is thrilled to announce that D’Arcy Short, Jake Weatherald, Kane Richardson and Tom Andrews will all return home to represent the NT Strike in the 2025 Top End T20 Series sponsored by Tourism NT.  

The quartet headline arguably the strongest NT Strike ever assembled, with the 15-player squad also including devastating top order batsman Jacob Dickman (Darwin CC), former Australian U19 fast bowler Tom Menzies (Darwin CC) and the ultra-skilful and competitive Hamish Martin (Palmerston CC).

The NT Strike will be looking to build on their semi-final loss to Bangladesh in the 2024 Top T20 End Series, with this year’s event featuring a record 11 teams playing 36 fixtures across Darwin and Palmerston from 14-24 August.

Regarded as some of the finest players to come out of the Northern Territory, the quartet of Short (Palmerston CC), Weatherald (Darwin CC), Richardson (Waratah CC) and Andrews (Darwin CC) have all gone on to forge successful professional cricket careers, with Richardson (25 ODIs and 36 T20Is) and Short (8 ODIs and 23 T20Is) playing for Australia.

Andrews will be looking to use the 2025 Top End T20 Series to build on what was a breakout BBL|14 season for the Sydney Thunder, with the left arm spinner going from last minute injury replacement to a revelation, taking 11 wickets across 10 matches and scoring important late innings runs as the men in lime green fell short in the final.

Weatherald meanwhile will be looking to continue his stellar twelve months which has him on the cusp of becoming the first Northern Territorian to wear a Baggy Green. Last season’s Sheffield Shield leading run scorer further putting his name forward for an Ashes opening spot with a superb 183 for Australia ‘A’ last week.

Returning to the side from 2024 is Charlie Smith (Nightcliff CC), Matt Hammond (Southern Districts CC), Cadell McMahon (Palmerston CC) and Connor Carroll (Tracy Village CC) – who have all been key contributors across the Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition (DDCC) – while Sam Elder (Tracy Village CC) returns having missed last year’s series.

Jai Allman (Nightcliff CC) and Archie McCormick (Waratah CC) earn selection in the senior men’s side for the first time. Allman was a consistent white-ball performer for Nightcliff throughout their runs to both the 2025 DDCC T20 and One-Day Grand Finals, while McCormick has shown versatility throughout the middle order for Waratah CC and has impressed with his leadership within the NT pathway.

NT Cricket are also pleased to confirm that Jordan Silk will play as an import player for the NT Strike, unable to represent the Hobart Hurricanes in the Top End T20 Series due to being contracted to the Sydney Sixers. The current Tasmania Tigers captain, who played for Southern Districts CC as a 19-year old, brings a wealth of experience and is widely regarded as the best fielder in the Big Bash League. Across his career, Silk has amassed 103 First Class, 68 List A and 135 T20 matches.

NT Head of Cricket, Nick Winter:

“I couldn’t be more excited with the squad we have assembled.

“To have D’Arcy, Jake, Kane and Tom all return home to play for the NT says a lot about them as individuals and the direction cricket is going in the NT, particularly the growth and standing of this event.

“It is also really powerful and inspiring for our next generation of talented young cricketers to see these four guys up close who have grown up here in the Territory and gone on to become professional cricketers, and in D’Arcy and Kane’s case represent their country.

“We thrilled to have an elite coach in Shane Jurgensen leading the squad, and we feel fortunate to be able to add an import player of Jordan Silk’s class and experience due to his exceptional circumstances. Again, what a great opportunity for our local lads to play with and learn from arguably the best fielder in the BBL.”

Tickets can be purchased from Ticketebo via https://www.ticketebo.com.au/northern-territory-cricket/2025-top-end-t20-series

An Early Bird Season Tickets are available this week only at $5 a ticket per game for all 36 fixtures!