City of Newcastle will host the prestigious 2024 Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships, attracting hundreds of players from across the nation to compete in the region for a week of tough competition.
 
The Australian Country Championships will be played in Newcastle at various locations from January 10, 2024, injecting over a million dollars of economic impact into the local economy. Run by Cricket Australia and hosted by Cricket NSW, the championships are an annual event featuring the best top-grade, country cricketing talent with elite male and female teams representing their states and territories.
 
The teams will battle it out in round robin competitions in both One Day (50-over) and Twenty20 formats, with the women’s division culminating in a final on the 10th of January, while the men’s division will be first past the post. The championships are a major sports tourism event for the region with a rich history running successfully since 1986.

Chair of Country Cricket NSW, Paul Marjoribanks, said the event offered talent identification opportunities with selectors seeking out promising players, as well as developmental pathways where individuals can go on to represent state, national and professional teams. He said the event aimed to nurture and develop cricketing talent from country regions and to engage local communities and clubs by promoting the game and leaving a legacy of inspiration to young, up and coming male and female cricketers.
 
Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, said Newcastle was the ideal location for the championships, which will be an outstanding promotion for the city delivering a significant economic boost to Newcastle businesses, hospitality sector and accommodation providers. “City of Newcastle is pleased to have worked with all levels of cricket administrators to increase the profile of the code, develop juniors and increase female participation in our city by investing in upgrades to our sporting facilities and providing support through our Event Sponsorship Program for major events such as the 2024 Australian Country Cricket Championships,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This event is a real coup for our region, attracting hundreds of Australia’s best regionally-based cricketers, their coaches, supporters and officials to Newcastle for the tournament, where they can make the most of our first class facilities including No.1 Sportsground, and also experience the diverse natural attractions, world-class facilities and rich culture the city has to offer. Hosting the Australian Country Cricket Championships will further enhance our reputation as an events city while also providing an invaluable opportunity to showcase Newcastle’s broader attractions to participants and visitors.”
 
To find out more about large, multi-participation events, contact our Senior Partnerships Manager, Steffan Jurd, on 0414 953 332.

Photo: The Australian Country Cricket Championships will attract hundreds of players into the region.