WATCH YOUR HURRICANES PLAY LIVE IN WINTER

EXCLUSIVE STREAMING OF THE STRIKE LEAGUE STARTS TOMORROW ONLY ON OUR WEBSITE

THE Ashes started last week — but it’s not the only top level cricket that Tasmanian fans of the sport can watch on screen this August.

In a first for the Mercury, we will exclusively livestream 10 matches from the men’s Strike League in Darwin on themercury.com.au

The first two games will be broadcast tomorrow in a competition that holds much significance for Australian cricketers, with the next tier of Big Bash players fighting to show they are worthy of the step up.

While some of the purple army’s main weapons are away on overseas duties, it is a chance for the Next Generation to shine.

The likes of Australian under-19s stars Keegan Oates and Jarrod Freeman will play major roles, as will other young guns such as Sean Willis and Caleb Jewell.

Riley Meredith, right, was so impressive during last summer’s Big Bash League he had some famous names calling for his inclusion in Australia’s World Cup squad.

With his express pace Meredith — even at just 23 years of age, which is a baby when it comes to pace bowling — shook up some of Australia’s best T20 batsman.

And the Strike League is no Mickey Mouse competition. Last summer, banned duo David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were the big name players. This year, the Tigers’ non-Hurricanes-listed players such as Sydney Sixers star Jordan Silk and former Australian one-day international bowler Gurinder Sandhu will bolster the opposition teams. This should be a tournament that will give the Hurricanes vital, quality match practice before the start of another big summer.

Tigers and Hurricanes batsman Charlie Wakim — who made a century on his Sheffield Shield debut last summer — played in the 2018 instalment of the NT Strike League and is looking forward to returning to the Top End.

“It’s an opportunity to gain valuable match practice against quality opposition from the NT and other interstate players,” said Wakim.

“Playing games during pre-season is great for players to put into practice all the things you’ve been working hard on.”

The action will be hot this winter in the Top End and not to be missed. Mercury digital subscribers can watch all the streamed games on our website from 11am tomorrow.