Photo credit: Samuel Coulter @sam.shoots.sports
Ginninderra opener Nick Allen will make his ACT Comets debut in the opening round of the Toyota Second XI season, rewarded for a prolific 2025/26 campaign in which he scored more than 1000 runs in ACT Premier Cricket.
Allen is the only debutant in a 12-player Comets squad to face NSW at Blacktown International Sports Park from 26 to 29 October. Scott Murn will captain the side, with Nic Broes named vice-captain. Tom Hogan, Zac Maron and Lewis Evans are the squad’s three Players of ACT Origin.
Comets coach Jono Dean said Allen’s selection was built on a marked improvement in the longer format.
“The biggest improvement in Nick’s game has been his decision-making and application in long-format cricket,” Dean said.
“He’ll play an important role at the top of the order, where we want him to handle the new ball and play an exciting brand of cricket that suits his great stroke-making ability. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him.”
Allen, who has always opened the batting, said the turnaround came down to mindset.
“My decision making was much better,” he said.
“Something just clicked in me and I was like, that’s the way I want to play my cricket, and it worked well.”
Dean phoned Allen on Monday with the news.
“He called me on Monday just to let me know I’d be in,” Allen said.
“Being able to watch them and see what they’ve been able to do the past few years, and now to get my shot, is just incredible. I can’t wait.”
The 2025/26 season followed a couple of years of training alongside the Comets, where Allen has learned from senior players including Broes and Murn, who has played both alongside him and is also his coach at club level.
“Being able to learn from them has been really, really incredible in helping me develop as a player,” Allen said.
Cricket has been a serious pursuit for Allen since childhood, with an older brother and a cricket-loving father among his early influences.
He said his bowling, however, was not a threat to opposition batters.
“I claim I can bowl, but I can’t, unfortunately,” he said.
Allen said the success of former ACT pathway players, including Hogan and Maron, who have since moved interstate, had shown him what was possible.
“It’s really inspirational for what they’ve been able to do,” he said. “To do what they’ve done and perform at this next level and then move on would be great.”
Asked what he was most looking forward to, Allen said he planned to soak it all in.
“I’m just looking forward to all of it. No matter how it goes, take it all in and just enjoy it.”
The coaching group’s advice was equally simple: play your way, have fun and enjoy the experience.
ACT Comets squad v NSW Second XI
Nic Broes (VC), Nick Allen, Zac Worden, Jack Sanson, Tyler Van Luin, Tom Hogan*, Scott Murn (C), Zac Maron* (wicketkeeper), Dave Dubey, Kai Brunker, Lewis Evans*, Harry Thomas
*Player of Origin
Head Coach: Jono Dean
Match details
Toyota Second XI: NSW v ACT Comets
26 to 29 October, play starts at 10.30am AEDT each day
Venue: Blacktown International Sports Park