Cricket star fronts court accused of child sexual abuse and grooming

15 hours ago 16
  •  Played matches for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes

By JOSH ALSTON, SENIOR SPORT REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and ETHAN JAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: 06:47 GMT, 2 December 2025 | Updated: 06:47 GMT, 2 December 2025

Former Hobart Hurricanes bowler Aaron Summers has faced Hobart’s Supreme Court after being arrested in Darwin while trying to fly home to Perth.

The 29-year-old is accused of penetrative sexual abuse of a child and grooming with intent to expose a young person to indecent material.

Summers has previously pleaded not guilty to both charges in Hobart Magistrates Court. 

Police allege the offences happened in Hobart on January 16, 2018, when he was part of the Hurricanes roster.

Summers and his surety attended court in person despite both living in Perth.

His lawyer, Caroline Graves, asked if future appearances could be handled via phone or videolink.

Aaron Summers, 29, is accused of penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person and grooming with the intention of exposing a child or young person to indecent material

Summers, who played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, leaves the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart on December 2 after appearing in person

The matter has been adjourned until March 11.  

It comes after a last-minute disclosure of evidence delayed court proceedings earlier this year. 

Summers played one game for the Hobart Hurricanes in late 2017 and three one-day games for Tasmania after making his debut in 2018.

The offences allegedly occurred in Hobart on January 16, 2018 - when Summers was part of the Hurricanes BBL roster.

He appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court on July 4 via phone from Perth.

His lawyer Caroline Graves said she had received an '11th-hour' disclosure which would take up to four weeks to review closely.

The matter was adjourned to September 8 and Summers' bail was continued.

He was extradited from the Northern Territory to Tasmania in April and is yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Summers (pictured) had also previously played for Tasmania 

Magistrate Andrew McKee said the matter could be committed to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Summers, a fast bowler, became the first foreign player to play in Pakistan's revamped domestic cricket competition in 2020.

And ahead of his sole BBL appearance for the Hurricanes, Summers bowled quicker than more established stars Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills.

'I know I've got a desirable talent: I'm one of the quickest blokes going around the world,' he previously told The Cricketer magazine.

'That's what I like to do. I get paid to do it. I bowl quick. That's my point of difference.'

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