WA Cricket has announced its 13-player Men’s and Women’s squads for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships starting in Mackay next week.
Some of Australia’s most talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers will take part in the tournament, with WA represented in the Men’s and Women’s competitions which get underway on April 14.
The WA Women’s Aboriginal Team, to be coached by Alex Stewart, will be looking to make it back-to-back titles, having claimed their maiden win at last year’s Championships.
Veronica Keen, who captained last year’s victorious squad, and Mikayala Hinkley have been named co-captains for this year’s tournament.
Hinkley is fresh from a productive WNCL season for WA, hitting 317 runs at 35.22 from 11 outings.
The 27-year-old also played a starring role in last year’s NICC final against Queensland.
Hinkley and Keen are among 10 players from last year’s squad that return to defend the title this year.
Willetton’s Brock Larance, who was named men’s Player of the Tournament in WA’s title-winning year in 2024, gets the opportunity to captain the WA Men’s Aboriginal Team in this year’s tournament.
Powerful left-hander and former Australian batter D’Arcy Short has also been included in the travelling squad.
WA’s Men’s team, which will be coached by Jermaine Davis, finished third behind New South Wales and Queensland last year, narrowly missing out on a spot in the decider.
WA’s Women’s team starts its campaign against Queensland on Tuesday, while the Men’s side will also feature on Tuesday against Victoria.
Through the WA Cricket Foundation, WA Cricket provides pathways and programs for Aboriginal cricketers from grassroots through to state and national representation.
WA Men’s Squad for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships:
Brock Larance © (Biripl/Willetton District Cricket Club)
Bevan Bennell (Whadjuk/Ballardong/Great Boulder Cricket Club)
Hayden Collins (Nylkina/Midland-Guildford Cricket Club)
Elijah Dare (Wiradjuri/University Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellett (Menang/Mt Lawley District Cricket Club)
Dekan John-Furnace (Yuat/Dandaragan Cricket)
Craig Jones (Wagyl Kaip/Dampier Taveners Cricket Club)
Amien Murdoch (Wiilman/Gosnells Cricket Club)
D’Arcy Short (Mitakoodi/Willetton District Cricket Club)
Dane Ugle (Whadjuk/Ballardong/Waroona Cricket Club)
Elijah Ugle (Whadjuk/Ballardong/Waroona Cricket Club)
Declan Walsh (Wongaibon/Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club)
Hayden Wynd (Yorta Yorta/Maragaret River Hawks)
WA Women’s Squad for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships:
Veronica Keen © (Badimia/Midland-Guildford Cricket Club)
Mikayla Hinkley © (Kunja/WA Womens/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Montanna Campbell (Koreng/Whadjuk/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Regina Deleeuw (Gnaala Karla Booja/Wanneroo District Cricket Club)
Rikki Garlett (Ballardong/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Emma-Lee Hammond (Whadjuk/Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club)
Jahlira Knight (Wangkumarra/Kooma/Barkindji/Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club)
Milani McColl (Koei Buwai Moiety/South Perth District Cricket Club)
Emily Rameriz (Badimaya Yamatji/Karratha Falcons Cricket Club)
Seren Simpson (Kurani/Melville Cricket Club)
Elsie Simpson (Kurani (Melville Cricket Club)
Charlotte Toohey (Kaurna Meyunna/Melville Cricket Club)
Samara Williams (Menang/Bundjalung/Perth District Cricket Club)