The ACT Rockets have taken out a fifth National Championship, and despite rivals Queensland doing all it could to stop the Rockets prevailing in Victoria last month, the strength of the ACT system shone through.
The Rockets defeated the Maroons 77–74 at Casey Stadium winning back-to-back titles and etching the Rockets name on the tournament shield for 2024, and adding to the 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2023 engravings.
Indoor Cricket ACT’s Brock Winkler said the National win was the culmination of ten months hard work.
“Some of the squad started training last October under Rockets Head of Strength and Conditioning, Kristen Bennett,” Brock said.
“We trained three times a week in season (April–June), in addition to Canberra Indoor Premier League games, and individual gym work.
“This is all done alongside full-time work commitments and family life, and wherever court space at Indoor Sports Centres is available, often meaning very early or late sessions.”
In an historic and proud moment for Indoor Cricket ACT, five Rockets players were named in the Australian Men's Indoor team for a Tri-Nations Series against New Zealand and South Africa in Adelaide in September.
Matthew Floros, Tim Floros, Luke Ryan, Tyler Hays and Brock Winkler will don the green and gold, making up almost half the Aussie side.
In further good news, Matthew Floros was also named as the 13th Australian Men's Captain – the first new Australian captain since 2013.
Matthew is a veteran of the Australian side, having played over 50 Tests for Australia, after debuting in Sri Lanka in 2013. He’s been Rockets captain since 2014.
His position as the new Australian Captain comes on the back of being named International Player of the Year, for his performances for Australia in the Gulf Cup in Dubai in 2023.
Matthew said being named Australian Captain was an honour.
“I grew up watching the previous Captains play and always thought, wow – that would be impossible to do because all of Australia’s Captains have been the best players and leaders,” he said.
“To be handed that duty is so scary but humbling at the same time.
“I’m super excited to continue the successful legacy of Australia whilst bringing in the new era of Australian indoor cricketers.
“If we can inspire people to play, coach or even watch the sport then I think we will have taken a step in the right direction.”
When asked about the weight of the ACT selections in the Australian Team, Matthew said the result was fantastic.
“When I first started playing at the men’s level, the ACT was lucky to have one player in the Australian team.
“To now have almost half the Australian team come from the ACT is surreal.
“It’s such an awesome feeling to know that I get to play with the best players in the world not only for my country, but for the Rockets as well.”
The Nationals tournament itself saw a consistently high standard of play across the week.
“You can feel a shift in the way the game is played and it’s exciting to see the evolution," Matthew said.
The Rockets only dropped one round game, to Western Australia. It was a similar story to 2023 where they dropped only one round to NSW, meaning the ACT Rockets have now won 24 of their last 26 games at national level over the past two years.
In addition, they won 35 of a possible 40 “skins” (batting pairs) in the round games, and 42 of 48 including finals, highlighting their dominance throughout the tournament.
So what makes the Rockets outfit so strong?
“The Rockets have had a core set of players for roughly 10 years straight,” Matthew Floros said.
Eight players from the team that won our first title in 2015, were in the squad of 11 that won this year: Matthew Floros, Tim Floros, Alexander Floros, Luke Ryan, Vinesh Bennett, Alex Bazzana, Matt Latham (who was selected in the New Zealand national side for the Tri-Series) and Brock Winkler.
“To see the success we have had as a team is no mistake.
“In a sport that is considered to still be amateur, we strive to treat every aspect of it as professional."
The good news from Nationals doesn’t end there.
Luke Ryan came second in the Alan Wilson Medal for the National Championships Player of the Series (won by Cameron Bullard from South Australia).
And, Rockets Coach Billy Floros was named as the Australian Women's Coach in the lead up to the Indoor Cricket National Championships. He will lead the Australian Women through a training camp in September, and then select a side for the 2025 Indoor Cricket World Cup from next year's National Championships.
The Rockets 2024 Squad was:
- Matthew Floros (c)
- Vinesh Bennett
- Luke Ryan
- Tim Floros
- Alex Bazzana
- Sam Dwyer
- Brock Winkler
- Alexander Floros
- Matthew Latham
- Tyler Hays
- Brad Kwong
- Coach: Bill Floros
- Manager: Marie Hart
- Head of S&C and Team Trainer: Kristen Bennett
- Team Physio: Amelia Riches
Post tournament ACT Rockets and Australian stalwart, Vinesh Bennett, announced his retirement from international indoor cricket.
A dual Alan Wilson Medallist, Vinesh’s international career spanned 17 years, amassing 66 Test caps while winning everything possible in the game.
From the ACT U22 Men's team (finishing 4th overall) captain, Brad Millynn, was selected in the Australian U22 team to play in the U22 Tri-Nations Series (played alongside the Men's tournament at the same time).
And, it was the first time the ACT has had a Women's U22 team compete at Nationals. While the girls faced some tough competition it was an exciting moment to have a women's team competing and it's a cohort that Indoor Cricket will continue to build in the coming years.
"They pushed eventual champions, Queensland, all the way to the final over in their first-ever match, picked up three wins (all against Victoria) and challenged every team throughout the week. Will be exciting to see their progress!" Brock said.
Junior Indoor Cricket Nationals
Congratulations to the following junior players on their achievements following Nationals:
- Byron Wright – U14 Boys Player of the Series & U14 Boys All-Star team
- Jack Jones – U14 Boys All-Star team
- Alyse O’Brien – U18 Girls All-Star team
- Nathan Kerr – U18 Boys All-Star team.
Masters Indoor Cricket Nationals
In May, our Masters players made the journey to Perth to compete in the 2024 Masters Indoor Cricket Championships.
Both teams were spirited in their fourth-placed finishes and five players were selected in Australian teams to travel to Sri Lanka for the 2024 Masters World Series.
Congratulations to:
- Rob Regent – Australian Over 45s
- Michael McEwan – Australia Over 45s
- Rod May – Australian Over 50s
- Preston Hart – Australian Over 50s
- Ted Hempstead – Australian Over 55s
Banner image: ACT Rockets holding the Nationals winners shield 2024 after defeating QLD in the Grand Final. Image courtesy Dylan Burns Photography.