Six state players join Warner, Bancroft in NT

The likes of Jake Lehmann and Alex Ross will join David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in next month's NT Strike League tournament in Darwin.

NT Cricket today announced South Australia batsmen Lehmann and Ross will return to the Strike League this year along with WA allrounder Will Bosisto, while young Tasmania star Jake Doran will make his tournament debut.

Victoria fast bowler Jake Reed and Queensland batsman Sam Truloff will also play, alongside local fast bowler Aaron Summers, who played one match for Hobart Hurricanes last season.

It was confirmed last month that Warner and Bancroft will make their return to competitive cricket in the month-long tournament and play their first matches since they were banned following the South African ball-tampering scandal.

Warner will play just two one-day games (on July 21 and 22) due to a scheduling clash with the Global T20 League in Canada, while Bancroft is locked in for the entire event.

While nine state-level players are locked in, there are a few notable absentees from last year's tournament; Territorian D'Arcy Short won't return as he will be on international duty with Australia in Zimbabwe, as will former Darwin resident Kane Richardson.

Another Territorian, BBL|07 player of the final Jake Weatherald, won't return having played in the tournament last year.

The nine marquee players will be spread across each of the four franchises and play alongside local amateur cricketers.

NT Cricket CEO Joel Morrison told cricket.com.au last month that he's confident the NT's local players can match it with some of the best players in the world.

"We're more than comfortable that our local players will be able to hold their own," Morrison told cricket.com.au.

"David and Cameron are exceptional players and they'll be a level above, but that's part of the challenge for our local players to test themselves against those skills. That will enhance their development.

"Last year showed ... that our players held their own. So we're very excited about the chance our players will have to play alongside Cameron and David."

The tournament is an entirely amateur event, meaning all professional players won't earn match fees and must pay for their own flights and accommodation.

Both 50-over and 20-over matches will be played from July 1 to 29.