The Mooroopna cricketer representing Victoria in the 2026 National Cricket Inclusion Championships has dazzled in WA with the Kookaburra, but despite his individual brilliance, there’ll be no fiesta for the Victorians, who were vying for a remarkable sixth straight title.
Across the five-day tournament, the five-time reigning champions recorded a 3-2 record to finish third on the tournament ladder, booking itself a semi-final date with South Australia, a side Ford and his teammates in navy had lost to in round one.
The Redbacks would have been wary of Ford’s ability to weave a wicket-taking web after the Cats product claimed two poles in their initial clash - two special moments for Ford, given the match was played on the storied WACA deck.
“I really enjoyed playing in Perth this year, even with the dry heat, it’s a lovely city, and playing at the WACA on day one was an unreal experience in itself,” Ford said.
Ford also notched a four-wicket haul against New South Wales and conceded just 16 runs in that match, but not before batting for the first time at state level, where he scored seven not out in a run chase of 18 runs after the Victorians dismantled the host state.
“I’d never batted for Victoria before,” Ford said.
“It was a lot more competitive (than batting for Mooroopna), but I wasn’t nervous and went out there and played my game.
“Heath Snooks and I made a plan to get to the target without losing our wicket, and we did that - and I was able to hit a lofted drive off the opening bowler too!”
It had been a roller coaster run for the Victorians, but Ford would make sure the state would have its say in the decider and not go down without one final swing at the crown.
South Australia would post a competitive score of 90 runs in the semi-final, coolly putting away shots into gaps or over the infield to the rope - except for when they faced Ford.
The Mooroopna master of the leather pill bowled eventual tournament champion player Matteus Drosd to end South Australia’s 46-run opening stand, before Ethan Hooper was trapped in the Ford factory by a skidding delivery that cannoned into the pads.
Dion Lucas was given his marching orders as fast as he marked middle stump after nicking off first ball, while Ford’s pumped-up celebration after removing Drosd was outdone by teammate Lukas Woodhouse, who revved up onlookers after a sharp catch at mid on that handed Ford his fourth wicket for his four-over spell.
His four wickets came against four of the top 10 run-getters for the tournament, depicting a glowing report of Ford’s skill at State level.
South Australia was damaging with the new ball; however, striking Victoria down to 3-6, but Woodhouse and Victorian skipper Lachlan Mitchell would form a 74-run partnership to take the state towards an eventual six-wicket victory with a touch under two overs to spare.
Unfortunately for Ford, the same form could not be recaptured in the grand final, with an undefeated Tasmanian team scoring a narrow nine-run win to end Victoria’s NCIC streak.
Ford finished the tournament with the equal-most wickets for Victoria, and equal-second most wickets of all players in the tournament with 10, marginally pipped by Tasmania’s Lachlan Johannesen, who took 11 poles.
“Although we came second, it was great to have gotten that far again,” Ford said.
“To be able to represent my state for my family, friends, my club Mooroopna, it was really good.”
