Cricket Victoria has announced the Victoria Metro and Victoria Country squads set to compete at the upcoming Cricket Australia Under-16 National Championships. The Championships bring together the best young players from across the country, providing a key step in their journey toward future state and national representation. This year’s preparation phase has been one of […]
Cricket Victoria has announced the Victoria Metro and Victoria Country squads set to compete at the upcoming Cricket Australia Under-16 National Championships.
The Championships bring together the best young players from across the country, providing a key step in their journey toward future state and national representation.
This year's preparation phase has been one of the strongest yet, highlighted by an excellent winter program at the CitiPower Centre on Saturday afternoons and at the MCG on Wednesday nights, followed by September practice matches against Greenvale Kangaroos Cricket Club.
The program also benefited from the addition of several experienced Premier Cricket coaches including Kim Littlejohn (Ringwood CC), Chloe Mackenzie (Geelong CC/Western Waves), David Shepard (Dandenong CC), and Brett Cole (Fitzroy Doncaster CC), all of whom provided players with more opportunity for individualised coaching.
The significant improvement in player development throughout the season is a testament to their contribution.
Victoria Metro will be led by Head Coach Sophie Strickland with Kim Littlejohn as Assistant Coach, while Victoria Country will be coached by Jess Duffin with Chloe Mackenzie as Assistant Coach.
The squads also include several players with representative experience at the national level.
Eva Baird and Jasmine Kamboj recently represented Australia in the U19 Series against Sri Lanka in September, while Lucy Fletcher and Noura Abdul Qader featured for Victoria at the U19 Cricket Australia Lanning Perry Series held in March.
Cricket Victoria's Talent Development Manager Cassie Brock said the Championships reflect the growing depth of talent across the state.
"We're incredibly proud of this group and the hard work that's gone into their development this year," Brock said.
"The support of our Premier and Community Clubs has been outstanding, and we're thrilled to see the enjoyment and improvement in our players through programs like the Marg Jennings Cup and Country Cup. The Under-16 Championships are another great opportunity for these athletes to continue their growth on the national stage."
The Victorian squads will travel to compete in the National Championships early next year.
2025/26 Victoria Metro U16s National Championships Squad
| First Name | Last Name | Community Club | Premier Club |
| Noura | Abdul Qader | West Point CC | Geelong CC |
| Eva | Baird | Burwood CC | Prahran CC |
| Anna | Burgon | East Sandringham CC | Prahran CC |
| April | Chaudhary | Werribee Juniors CC | Geelong CC |
| Anuki | Dassanayake | Glen Waverley CC | Dandenong CC |
| Jasmine | Kamboj | Sydenham-Hillside CC | Carlton CC |
| Zoe | Mackay | Mt Waverley CC | Carlton CC |
| Ananya | Mahajan | Werribee Juniors CC | Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC |
| Anushka | Mehta | Bentleigh CC | Prahran CC |
| Georgia | Naughton | Parkdale CC | Prahran CC |
| Lily | Parker | Koonung Heights CC | Melbourne CC |
| Mineli | Perera | Vermont CC | Ringwood CC |
| Divisha | Shah | Rowville CC | Ringwood CC |
| Ishita | Tiwari | Bentleigh CC | Dandenong CC |
2025/26 Victoria Country U16s National Championships Squad
| First Name | Last Name | Community Club | Premier Club | Country Cup |
| Poppy | Agg | Geelong City CC | Geelong CC | |
| Sienna | Barnett | Golden Square CC | Greenvale Kangaroos CC | Northern Rivers |
| Shenali | Fernando | Beaconsfield CC | Melbourne CC | |
| Lucy | Fletcher | Parkdale United CC | Prahran CC | |
| Ruby | Flett | St Joseph's CC | Geelong CC | |
| Tanae | Grero | Bacchus Marsh CC | Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC | Central Highlands |
| Clover | McIlwaine | Bacchus Marsh CC | Geelong CC | Central Highlands |
| Eloise | Millard | Tarrington CC | Geelong CC | Western Waves |
| Erin | Moloney | Geelong City CC | Geelong CC | |
| Evette | Paternott | Berwick Strikers CC | Dandenong CC | |
| Zarah | Timpson | Nestles CC | Geelong CC | Western Waves |
| Minudi | Weerasinghe | Glen Waverley CC | Melbourne CC | |
| Maddison | Winter | Heyfield CC | Dandenong CC | Gippsland Pride |
| Jayda | Wright | Ballarat Redan CC | Carlton CC | Central Highlands |
