A star New Zealand duo will return to familiar sights when they take the field for the Top End T20 Series on Saturday.
Left arm spinner Jayden Lennox and batting all-rounder Josh Clarkson both played club cricket in Darwin (Palmerston and PINT respectively) almost a decade ago.
The pair both excelled in the Northern Territory and are set for a big showing when they don the New Zealand uniform over the 10-day tournament, which starts on Friday.
Lennox won a two-day premiership with Palmerston and Strike League title with the City Cyclones in 2018.
Clarkson won a Ralph Weise Medal for the best and fairest in the premier club cricket competition in 2019, after scoring 757 runs and taking 19 wickets.
Fast forward more than five years and the pair will be a part of New Zealand A’s inaugural Top End T20 tournament.
Lennox, who made his ODI debut against India earlier this year, was pumped about being in town for the Study NT Top End T20 Series.
“It’s really cool, we’re obviously really excited to be here,” Lennox told ntcricket.com.au.
“It’s the middle of the New Zealand winter so it’s a really good opportunity for us to get over here and play some twenty-twenty cricket.”
The NZ A side has spent plenty of time travelling around the world in recent times with their most recent trip being in Sri Lanka.
And now the team is ready for its next challenge in the Top End T20 Series where they will face oppositions from around the world like Bangladesh and Australian Big Bash teams to name a few.
Lennox was complimentary of his teammates ahead of the tournament.
“We’ve got a pretty good squad,” the New Zealand A captain said.
“We’ve been on a few tours now over the last 18-24 months as a group.
“We’ve had some pretty good success. I think we’re a pretty strong opposition for whoever we play, which I suppose is a real credit to New Zealand Cricket to prop up this and send us over here and give us some exposure to a competition like this.”
New Zealand A get its tournament underway against Adelaide Strikers at TIO Stadium on Saturday, starting at 10am local time.
LENNOX ON DARWIN CRICKET
Lennox made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in May. The 31-year-old also won a two-day premiership in his first season in Darwin eight years ago in 2018 and a Strike League title for City Cyclones in that same season.
“I have had some really good memories having two seasons over here,” he said.
“Being back here training at Marrara and remembering what it was like that afternoon after winning the two-day flag, it certainly brings back some pretty cool memories.
“And then playing in two editions of Strike League and winning one of them was pretty cool too.”
Explosive batting all-rounder Josh Clarkson, scored two centuries in his 2019 season in Darwin.
“He had a really successful time here," Lennox said.
"He went home with the Ralph Weise Medal in his pocket.
“There was a few of us at the time coming over from New Zealand and sort of dipping our toes in club cricket when it became really difficult to go to the UK.
“It was epic to be able to come over here and play cricket in the New Zealand winter.”
The Darwin and District Cricket competition has played host to many New Zealand emerging cricketers for a long time.
Former New Zealand cricketer and current England white ball coach Brendon McCullum scored 250 not out in just less than 100 balls in a two-day game for Palmerston in the early 2000s.
ANOTHER DARWIN LINK
New Zealand A spin coach Paul Wiseman has been to Darwin before.
The former New Zealand International spinner played for the NZ emerging players side in 1994 and returned in 2022 to coach the NZ Under-19 side for some World Cup qualifiers. NZ A fast bowling coach Graeme Aldridge was also in Darwin in 2022, helping to steer the ship.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
There will be a number of players to watch from the NZ side in this year’s Top End T20 Series.
NZ wicketkeeper Mitch Hay scored a half century of 61 in his debut Test match last summer against the West Indies.
Batter Bevon Jacobs has been busy on the circuit recently, featuring in the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League. He also played in the ILT20 and has played 11 T20Is for New Zealand.
Kristian Clarke was the second most economical bowler out of seven NZ bowlers on T20I debut against India earlier this year in January.
Opening batter Katene Clarke scored 51 against Bangladesh in a T20I in late April at Chattogram.
Adi Ahsok could be the next spinner in line for national team spin duties after Ish Sodhi.
All-rounder Mo Abbas holds the record for the fastest 50 on ODI debut.
Top-order batter Tim Robinson has scored two fifties and a century in T20I cricket. His century of 106 not out off 66 balls came against Australia in October, 2025. Robinson has also recently played in the Major League Cricket and CPL.
Left-arm quick Ben Lister has national team experience with 13 T20Is and four ODIs.
Batting all-rounder Dean Foxcroft scored 96 on Test debut against Ireland in May at Belfast.
The Top End T20 Series for NZ A comes ahead of hosting India next at home next summer.
The tournament is already underway! See the latest results here