Northern Districts

The Northern Districts men's cricket team are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.

They are based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand (excluding Auckland). They compete in the Plunket Shield first-class competition, the Ford Trophy domestic one-day competition and the Men's Super Smash T20 competition as the Northern Brave. The T20 team was previously known as the Northern Knights until the 2021–22 season, when both the men's and women's teams were rebranded under the same name.

Northern Districts, the last of the six current teams to attain first-class status, joined the Plunket Shield competition in 1956–57. The six district associations that make up Northern Districts are the Northland Cricket Association, Counties Manukau Cricket Association, Waikato Valley Cricket, Hamilton Cricket Association, Bay of Plenty Cricket and Poverty Bay Cricket Association.

The Northern Districts cricket team is a professional cricket team based in New Zealand. The team represents the Northern Districts region, which includes the cities of Hamilton, Whangarei, and Tauranga. The team was formed in 1956 and has since become one of the most successful teams in New Zealand cricket history.

The Northern Districts cricket team competes in various domestic competitions, including the Plunket Shield, the Ford Trophy, and the Super Smash. The team has won the Plunket Shield six times, the Ford Trophy four times, and the Super Smash twice.

The team is known for its strong batting lineup and aggressive style of play. Some of the notable players who have represented the Northern Districts cricket team include Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and BJ Watling.

The team plays its home matches at Seddon Park in Hamilton and Cobham Oval in Whangarei. The Northern Districts cricket team is a popular team among cricket fans in New Zealand and is known for its passionate and dedicated fan base.