McCartney’s return bolsters Victorian squad ahead of National Indigenous Cricket Championships

Callan Morse Published March 28, 2025 at 3.00pm (AWST)

Sport

Clayton McCartney will represent Victoria for the first time since 2018 at next month's National Indigenous Cricket Championships. (Image: Darrian Traynor/Cricket Australia)

The return of Clayton McCartney has strengthened Victoria's men's squad ahead of next week's National Indigenous Cricket Championships.

Having last represented Victoria at the 2018 tournament, McCartney, a hard-hitting middle order batter, led Victoria their sole NICC triumph eight years ago.

Against a strong New South Wales outfit in the 2017 tournament's decider, McCarthy rescued Victoria from 3-25 with a classy century, scoring 114 (109) to see Victoria post 8-228 and an 18-run victory.

Victoria's men's team will be captained by allrounder Wade King, who enters the tournament in prolific touch with both bat and ball.

The allrounder, who captained the Melbourne Stars Indigenous XI last month, has amassed 1990 runs at 62.10 across all formats this season, while taking 40 wickets at 18.43.

Last month the Ngampiaa man told National Indigenous Times the hit out between the Stars and Renegades Indigenous outfits at St Kilda's CitiPower Centre was an important cultural event and preparation opportunity for this year's NICC.

"This is more about coming together... meeting blokes from different backgrounds and just getting to know one another," King said.

"It also is a bit of a trial for bigger things, such as the Victorian Indigenous side of the NICCs.

"It is a lot more than just a game of cricket. We're out there for three hours, but we're here for the whole day, bonding with teammates from all over the joint."

Joining McCartney and King in the squad NICC regulars including Lara Cricket Club's Jhiah Baxter and Brendan Miller, and Pines Cricket Club's Pat Jackson.

Victoria's women's team will be lead by Merinda Hale, who said it's an honour to be leading her side into the 2025 tournament.

"This year we are looking to perform and grow, both individually and collectively as a team," Hale said.

"We are fresh and ready to go coming out of cricket season in Victoria with some new faces joining us, so I'm excited at the possibilities for our squad.

"No matter the result, we are wanting to come out of the tournament as a connected unit and make memories together. "

Hale will be at the helm of a new-look Victorian women's squad which will lean on experienced NICC campaigners Molly Ward and Tahlia Meier in Mackay.

Ward said her time at the Indigenous Championships, firstly as a 14-year-old in 2015, are some of her best memories of her playing career.

"It's really special connecting with girls from all the other mobs, we do a lot of cultural things, the smoking ceremonies, it's great to be a part of," Ward said, the Bairnsdale Advertiser reports.

Victoria's men's squad will open the tournament against Queensland at Roy Trevaskis Oval while the women's squad comes up against New South Wales at George Gorrie Oval.

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships will be held from 2-7 April on Yuwibara Country in Mackay.

Victoria Men's Indigenous Squad

Jhiah Barker - Nygena Walmatjari, Lara CC

Jacob Bourke – Taungurung, Kilmore CC

Kane Hawkins – Barkindji, Wodonga Raiders CC

Pat Jackson – Yorta Yorta, Pines CC

Lachlan Jackson – Yorta Yorta, Pines CC

Wade King – Captain – Ngampiaa, McKinnon CC

Will Marks – Wotjobaluk, Birchip CC

Ricci Marks – Wotjobaluk, Churchill CC 

Clay McCartney – Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba & Wotjobaluk, Bundoora CC

Brenden Miller – Palawa, Lara CC