Comets to warm-up for 2024/25 in the Top End

Last year’s runners-up, the Pakistan Shaheens, will be joined by a Bangladesh High Performance squad, and Northern Territory and ACT sides complemented by teams from Tasmania, and BBL outfits Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers, as the competition expands from six to nine teams.

Comets Head Coach Jono Dean has assembled a handy 14-man squad including co-captains and allrounders Tyler van Luin and Scott Murn, and seven other players who featured in National Second XI Competition matches last season, while also providing opportunities for some exciting young players to impress at a higher level.

“Nick Allen is a top order bat from our pathways who I’m keen to see fit into our style of play, as is left-arm orthodox spinner Tom Hogan who performed strongly at the Under-19s National Championships,” Dean said.

“Zac Maron comes in as our back-up wicketkeeper, but fields and bats well in his own right. Esam Rahman starred for Queanbeyan on their way to a Douglas Cup Premiership locally in Canberra last season, and Hayden Watling is a young fast bowler who moved to Canberra last season to link up with ANU.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the guys competing well in Darwin, and taking their opportunities against strong interstate and international opposition in a tournament that has quickly become a major component of our preparations for a new season.”

ACT Comets squad: Tyler van Luin (CC), Scott Murn (CC), Nick Allen, Nic Broes, Kai Brunker, Tom Hogan, Zak Keogh, Tyler Hays, Hanno Jacobs, Zac Maron (wk), Mikey McNamara (wk), Esam Rahman, Jake Smith, Hayden Watling.

Coach: Jono Dean    Physio: Josh Taylor

2024 Top End T20 fixture (all times AEST)

• Monday, 12 August - 2.30pm: Perth Scorchers vs. ACT Comets | DXC Arena
• Tuesday. 13 August - 3.30pm: Melbourne Stars vs. ACT Comets | Cazaly’s Arena
• Thursday, 15 August - 1.30pm: ACT Comets vs. Bangladesh HP | TIO Stadium
• Friday, 16 August - 2.30pm: ACT Comets vs. Northern Territory | Gardens Oval
• Saturday, 17 August
  • 10.30am: ACT Comets vs. Adelaide Strikers | DXC Arena
  • 6.30pm: ACT Comets vs. Pakistan Shaheens | DXC Arena
• Sunday, 18 August – semi-finals 10.30am + Final 4.30pm