Cricket NSW is sending four squads to the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC) in 2025, and, in addition, eight women cricketers in the introductory Blind & Low Vision Women’s category to be part of the first teams that will play in this category at the championships.
The four squads comprise the Blind and Low Vision men’s, Deaf and Hard of Hearing men’s, Deaf and Hard of Hearing women’s, and Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability (ID) teams. The teams are proudly supported by the Cricket NSW Foundation, the charitable arm of Cricket NSW.
The 2025 edition of the NCIC, like past years, will feature the best Australian cricketers with a disability competing to be crowned national champions.
The tournament will take place at Marchant Park in Brisbane, running from January 19-24, with twenty-two teams representing seven different states and territories set to take part.
There are five divisions across the championships: Blind & Low Vision Mixed, Blind & Low Vision Women’s, Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Men’s and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Women’s.
Following exhibition games last year, 2025 marks the first time the championship will feature a full week of Blind & Low Visions Women’s matches.
Established in 2017, the NCIC provides players with an opportunity to play at the highest domestic level. With over 300 players competing across the week, this is one of the largest championships run by Cricket Australia each season.
NSW’s Blind and Low Vision Men’s team has dominated in recent seasons and are looking to win a sixth straight trophy this year. Some of Australia’s strongest low vision cricketers, Oscar Stubbs and Steffan Nero, are part of this year’s squad, as is long-standing captain Lindsay Heaven.
In addition, female cricketers such as Courtney Lewis and Courtney Webeck, who were part of the mixed Blind & Low Vision squad last year that won the trophy, will be a part of the teams that will play in the Women’s Blind and Low Vision exhibition matches.
To support the NCIC, National Inclusion Ambassador for Cricketers with a Disability, Nathan Lyon, has donated three exclusive signed bats to Cricket Australia social impact partner Taverners Australia.
Each of these limited-edition bats feature a Braille sticker in the centre reading “a sport for all” and are signed by an Australian and Indian Test cricket star. Taverners Australia are auctioning these bats, with proceeds going towards supporting pathways and programs for cricketers with a disability. More information can be found at the auction site here.
Jake Balnave, Head of Cricket NSW Foundation, said:
“We are proud to be able to support the NSW players to compete at the NCIC. Our inclusion teams are an inspiration to us and many others, in that the barriers they have faced have not deterred them from playing and representing their state at the national level of the sport.
“We have such wonderful athletes and ambassadors across all of our Inclusion squads, who are paving the way for people with a disability to play and love cricket. The Cricket NSW Foundation has also supported a number of all-abilities school-based programs this year, which have no doubt featured future NSW stars.”
“We’re looking forward to our cricketers playing the game with pride and joy, regardless of the outcome of the championships.”
To follow all the action during the 2025 National Cricket Inclusion Championships, download the Play Cricket app or visit Cricket Australia's YouTube channel where all games will be available via live stream.