Winter cricket programs surge across NSW

For children who can’t get enough of cricket after a thrilling summer season, winter is no longer a time to pack away the gear. Across Sydney and Country NSW, winter cricket is booming—with new competitions, skill clinics, and social programs keeping the cricketing spirit alive through the colder months.  

For the first time, the Nepean District Cricket Association is running a Winter Cricket competition, backed by a newly-appointed social and winter cricket coordinator. The response has been nothing short of incredible. With over 798 participants and counting, including 288 junior cricketers, registrations have surged beyond expectations. So much so that organisers had to secure additional grounds and close off registrations early. The competition, which began on May 3, reflects a strong spirit of collaboration within the association and with partner organisations, setting a solid precedent for future seasons.

Meanwhile, efforts to grow the women’s and girls’ game are in full swing across Country NSW. A standout example is the Winter Skills Clinic in Maitland, a six-week, all-girls program for junior cricketers aged 7 to 14. Held indoors at the Maitland Indoor Centre to ensure no cancellations due to weather, the clinic focuses on building technical skills and game sense, with sessions run by two female Level 2 coaches. The program paves the way for an all-girls indoor competition in Term 3 and the launch of a dedicated all-girls league within the Maitland District Junior Cricket Association in the 2025/26 season.

Similar social programs are rolling out across the state, including sessions at the Kincumber Indoor Sports Centre on the Central Coast, Blacktown International Sports Park, and Bankstown Sports, which is running its first ever girls’ program. From Armidale and Harris Park, there is a growing number of offerings during winter. The Harris Park winter cricket program for girls is already seeing over 40 registered participants. Cricket Central is also running a girls-only Cricket Blast to welcome even more young players into the game. 

Find a girls' winter cricket program 

In Sydney, winter cricket is thriving with over 170 junior teams taking part in the Sydney Junior Winter Cricket competition. The competition, now in its 21st year, has evolved from a small local league into a massive winter fixture. Played in the familiar T20 format across Stages 1, 2, and 3, the competition spans U10 to U16 age groups and is held across metro areas and the Central Coast.  

Each Sunday, three games are played per ground to account for limited availability and shorter daylight hours. Teams represent a wide geographic range, including Central Coast, Northern Sydney, Western Suburbs, Bankstown, South-West Sydney, and Western Sydney—by far the largest contingent, fielding 75 teams.   

The competition started during the first week of May and will continue until the end of Term 2 in July. 

Whether it’s competitive cricket in Nepean, skill-building in Maitland, or Sunday matches in Sydney, it’s clear that winter in NSW is no off-season for cricket. With rising participation and more opportunities for girls, cricket is not just a sport you play during the summer months anymore, there is a chance to play it all year round.