Cricket Australia is pleased to announce Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket Inc. (MJCC), Western Australia, as the winner of the 2025–26 Community Cricket Association of the Year Award, recognising outstanding leadership, governance and impact across community cricket.
Award Winner: Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket Inc. (WA)
Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket Inc. continues to set the benchmark for junior community cricket administration and delivery. In the 2025–26 season, more than 10,000 junior participants took part in MJCC competitions, reflecting exceptional growth across all demographics and a strong participant‑first philosophy.
A newly elected board has driven this success through the adoption of a formal strategic plan, underpinned by robust governance and clear community‑focused values. Central to this has been a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, demonstrated through the establishment of a DEI working group and an inaugural election process that attracted 16 nominees for six board positions. All candidates completed mandatory governance and education modules through the Australian Sports Commission, ensuring best‑practice leadership standards across the association.
MJCC has also delivered meaningful, practical change through a suite of new initiatives including:
- A review of protests and dispute processes to ensure child‑friendly and low‑harm outcomes
- Guidance to clubs supporting families observing Ramadan
- The development of a comprehensive board induction guide
- The introduction of sub‑committee charters to maximise volunteer effectiveness while managing conflicts of interest
Supporting and Connecting Clubs
The association has reimagined how it supports its clubs, placing a premium on respecting volunteer time. MJCC has moved away from traditional monthly meetings toward targeted engagement through key events, knowledge‑sharing forums and president meetings facilitated by WA Cricket. Competition administration support has been streamlined, allowing club volunteers to focus on growing participation and creating welcoming environments.
Operating as one association across Perth and Peel, MJCC has reduced duplication, increased consistency and strengthened collaboration across its network—an approach widely recognised for its efficiency and impact.
Technology and the Pathway
MJCC is a national leader in the use of technology, with mandatory live scoring across all competitions, contributing to Western Australia’s strong performance in this space. The association is also working closely with Cricket Australia to responsibly explore live‑streaming opportunities, balancing innovation with child safety.
A clear commitment to the full cricket pathway underpins MJCC’s operations. Member clubs are required to open Cricket Blast registrations, reinforcing early engagement, while new clubs must demonstrate delivery of Woolworths Cricket Blast for two years before entering the junior pathway. Although MJCC does not directly run senior competitions, it actively collaborates across the system through representation on WA Cricket’s Statewide Game Development Committee, strengthening alignment from entry‑level to premier cricket.
Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket Inc. exemplifies what it means to be a modern, values‑driven association—delivering strong governance, empowering volunteers and creating inclusive, high‑quality cricket experiences for thousands of young people.
Highly Commended: Horsham Cricket Association (VIC)
The judging panel also extends high commendation to the Horsham Cricket Association (Victoria) in recognition of its dedication to community cricket and the vital role it plays in supporting clubs and participants across its region. Horsham’s nomination reflects the strength and passion of regional associations and their continued contribution to the health and sustainability of the game.
Cricket Australia congratulates Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket Inc. on this outstanding achievement and thanks Horsham Cricket Association and all nominees nationwide for their commitment to growing and strengthening community cricket.