A national cricket milestone has taken on a personal meaning in Darwin, with local sisters Roxanne and Violet McNaught at the centre of Cricket Australia reaching 150,000 registered participants aged 5–12 for the first time.
The milestone registration was recorded through the McNaught family at Tracy Village Cricket Club, where both girls play, alongside their mum Chloe, who is an active senior women’s cricketer.
Violet has progressed from Woolworths Cricket Blast into junior club cricket, while Roxanne continues her development through the junior pathway. Their involvement reflects a broader trend across Darwin, where more young players are picking up the game and continuing through local competitions.
Their connection to cricket also spans generations.
Roxanne and Violet are the great-granddaughters of Marjorie Moore, a pioneering figure in early women’s cricket in Australia. At just 16, Moore captained Canberra’s women’s side in January 1935 in the first international match at Manuka Oval against the touring England Women’s team. Marjorie was the second youngest player in the side, with her sister Helen the youngest at just 14.
She was later considered for the 1937 Australian tour of England but was ruled ineligible due to age restrictions, before continuing her contribution to the game in an administrative role as President of the Federal Capital Territory Women’s Cricket Association.
That legacy continues today through the McNaught family’s involvement at Tracy Village, where cricket brings together multiple generations.
James Allsopp, Cricket Australia Chief of Cricket, said:
“We’ve seen a remarkable surge in participation this summer, with more children inspired to pick up a bat and ball than ever before, following an outstanding season of cricket across the NRMA Insurance Ashes Series, NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series, KFC BBL and Weber WBBL.
“Reaching 150,000 individual registrations across our 5–12-year-old junior cricket competitions and programs is a significant milestone and a testament to the strong connection young Australians have with the game, as well as the tireless work of coaches and volunteers across the country who create great environments for kids to play.
“Woolworths Cricket Blast continues to play a vital role as an entry point to cricket for children aged 5-9, with participation numbers reflecting its ongoing success and appeal.
“This summer has also seen the junior participation model expand, giving participants greater choice as they transition from Cricket Blast into either traditional Junior Cricket or the recently launched Smash Series format. The subsequent strong growth in junior cricket is pleasing, highlighting the successful focus on creating exceptional experiences to ensure kids keep coming back for more cricket opportunities that meet their needs and preferences.
“Across competitions and programs nationwide, more Australian children than ever are experiencing the fun, friendship and sense of community that cricket provides.”
Cricket in Darwin continues to build momentum, with NT Cricket recording 950 registrations by early March, up 8.9% on last year and more than 50% growth since 2022, alongside an increase of 16 teams across local competitions.
Junior participation is driving that growth, particularly in younger age groups, with new Under 11 teams introduced and more players progressing through the Under 12 and 13 grades.
Nationally, participation has reached record levels across both Woolworths Cricket Blast and junior cricket programs, with strong growth also seen in girls’ participation.
To celebrate the milestone, the sisters and their family were surprised with four tickets and a money-can’t-buy experience for the upcoming NRMA Insurance Men’s Test between Australia and Bangladesh at Darwin’s Marrara Stadium in August, as well as a $200 Woolworths voucher.
For NT Cricket, the moment reflects both progress and opportunity, as more children across the Territory take up the game and begin their cricket journey.