Alice Springs to stay home to Indigenous competitions for the next three years

Cricket Australia’s premier Indigenous competitions have been given a major boost with the announcement of Alice Springs as the host of the tournament for the next three years. 

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships and the Imparja Cup will become a Northern Territory state staple until at least 2018.

Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager, Game and Market Development Andrew Ingleton made the announcement at Traeger Park today.

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“Today’s announcement further entrenches cricket in the Northern Territory. Providing our most talented Indigenous cricketers with further development opportunities is central to the decision to create the National Indigenous Cricket Championships,” Mr Ingleton said.

“The 22-year heritage of the Imparja Cup – and the participation opportunities it presents for Indigenous men, women and children – will continue thanks to this partnership. 

The competitions had interest across the country with both Toowoomba and Adelaide forwarding proposals to hold the events.

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Western Australia celebrates victory at the 2015 Imparja Cup // Getty Images

Northern Territory Minister for Sport and Recreation Gary Higgins said that cricket would continue to be an outlet for Indigenous communities.

“The National Indigenous Cricket Championships will feature the cream of Australia’s Indigenous cricketers battling it out at the top level, and the Imparja Cup will continue to be a celebration of culture and participation which brings communities together in Central Australia,” Mr Higgins said.

The Northern Territory’s hosting of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships and Imparja Cup until 2018 builds on a host of cricket activity in the Territory, including the Chairman's XI vs. England in 2013, the Australia A Quadrangular Series in Darwin and Palmerston in 2014, and the Victorian Bushrangers two home Bupa Sheffield Shield fixtures in 2015.

Of 1.1 million cricket participants in Australia, 21,000 identify as Indigenous – Cricket Australia aim to increase that number to 27,000 by 2018 as part of their National Community Engagement Framework.