How do I find a local cricket club or centre through Play Cricket?

Updated

Play Cricket (play.cricket.com.au) is Cricket Australia's participation hub, and it gives you two main ways to find somewhere to play near you: a Find a Club entry point and a Find your local centre link attached to each featured program. The practical approach is to decide which format fits you first — Woolworths Cricket Blast (ages 5–10), Smash Series Cricket (ages 9+), or Senior Club Cricket (ages 16+) — then use that program's "Find your local centre" link, or use Find a Club if you just want to see what clubs exist in your area. Results point you to local clubs or partner centres, so you'll still need to contact them directly to confirm registration, session times, and availability.

Decide your format before you search

The site is organised around programs rather than a single universal search, so picking a format first narrows your results and saves time.

| Program | Ages | What it is | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---| | Woolworths Cricket Blast | 5–10 | Game-based activities teaching cricket skills and teamwork, with an inclusive environment where players progress by ability | Kids trying cricket for the first time | | Smash Series Cricket | 9+ | A social, fast, simplified format "born from the backyard," keeping the best parts of cricket in one hour | New players or people returning to the game who want a low-commitment, fun option | | Senior Club Cricket | 16+ | Club cricket played for fun or competitively, with varying grades and formats depending on experience and interest | Teens and adults who want regular club play at a level matching their ability |

If you're unsure, note that the age bands overlap at the edges (Smash Series starts at 9, Senior Club at 16), so a 16-year-old could reasonably look at either Smash Series or Senior Club depending on how competitive they want to be.

Step-by-step: finding a club or centre

  1. Go to play.cricket.com.au. The homepage presents the "Your Cricket, Your Way" framing and the main ways to be part of the community — Play, Coach, Umpire, Schools, Clubs.
  2. Choose your path. Use Find a Club if you want to browse clubs generally, or scroll to the featured programs and use the Find your local centre link under the specific program you want (Blast, Smash Series, or Senior Club).
  3. Enter your location. The centre finder is location-based, so provide your suburb or region to get nearby options.
  4. Review the results. You'll see local clubs or partner centres running that program. Check the age range and format match what you picked in step 1.
  5. Contact the club or centre directly. This is the step the website can't complete for you — the listing tells you where to go, but registration details, start dates, fees, and session times come from the club itself.

Expected result: a shortlist of nearby clubs or centres offering your chosen format, plus contact details to follow up with.

What to confirm with the club before you commit

The Play Cricket listings are a starting point, not a booking system. When you contact a club or centre, ask about:

  • Registration process and deadlines — whether you sign up through Play Cricket, the club's own system, or in person.
  • Season dates and session times — especially for Smash Series, which is built around one-hour sessions, and Blast, which runs as a program rather than a full season.
  • Fees and what's included — kit, insurance, and match fees vary by club and program.
  • Grading or ability level — Senior Club Cricket offers "varying grades and formats," so ask which grade suits your experience.
  • Whether the centre is a club or a partner venue — a "local centre" may be a dedicated program venue rather than a full club, which affects whether you can progress into regular club cricket there.

Common snags

  • Searching before choosing a format. Because the finder is tied to specific programs, you'll get cleaner results by deciding on Blast, Smash Series, or Senior Club first.
  • Assuming the listing is the final word. Availability changes through the season; a centre shown on the site may have full or closed intakes.
  • Age mismatches. If your child is just outside a band (for example, turning 11 and ageing out of Blast), check Smash Series or ask the club about the next step up.
  • Expecting online sign-up. The site's role is to connect you with your local cricket community — the actual joining happens with the club or centre.

If you'd rather explore the non-playing side, the same homepage lists Coach, Umpire, Schools, and Clubs as other ways to be part of the cricket community on and off the field.