Imparja Cup facts for kids
| Administrator | Northern Territory Cricket Cricket Australia |
|---|---|
| Format | One Day, Twenty20, Super 8, 6-a-side Indoor Cricket |
| First edition | 1994 (2001 as a national competition) |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and Playoff final |
| Current champion | NICC Men: NSW NICC Women: NSW Major Centres: Alice Springs Community Men's: Reclink Rebels Community Women's: Bush Potatoes |
| Most successful | NICC Men: Queensland (6 titles) NICC Women: NSW (7 titles) Major Centres: Darwin (5 titles) Community Men's: Reclink Rebels/All Sorts (2 titles) Community Women's: Bush Potatoes (6 titles) |
The Imparja Cup and National Indigenous Cricket Championships are exciting cricket tournaments. They are held every year in Alice Springs, which is in the Northern Territory of Australia. These tournaments are special because teams of Indigenous Australian cricketers compete.
Contents
The Story Behind the Tournaments
The Imparja Cup began in 1994. It started as a yearly cricket match. This match was played between teams from Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Shane and Mervyn Franey, along with Ross Williams, helped start this event.
By 1998, Northern Territory Cricket began helping to organize the tournament. In 2001, Cricket Australia made it a national competition. This meant teams from all over Australia could join. Imparja Television has supported the tournament since it began.
In 2016, Cricket Australia changed the State and Territory Division. It became the National Indigenous Cricket Championships. This change helps talented Indigenous cricketers aim for higher levels of cricket. Also in 2016, Indoor Cricket was added to the Imparja Cup. This gave more teams a chance to play.
How the Games Are Played
Today, the Imparja Cup and National Indigenous Cricket Championships have six different parts, called divisions.
NICC Men's Division
The Men's Division of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships plays One Day and Twenty20 matches. Teams play each other in a round-robin style. The two best teams then play in a final match to decide the winner.
NICC Women's Division
The Women's Division also plays Twenty20 matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams play in a Twenty20 final.
Other Divisions
Teams in the Major Centres Division play Twenty20 cricket. The Community Men's Division and Community Women's Division play a shorter game. They use a 14-over format called Super 8s. The Indoor Cricket games are fast-paced, with six players on each team.
Watching the Games
Since 2009, the tournaments have been shown on National Indigenous Television. You can also find videos from the Imparja Cup on the Northern Territory Cricket YouTube channel.
Past Winners
| Year | Host | National Indigenous Cricket Cup | Imparja Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Division | Women's Division | Major Centres Division | Community Men's Division | Community Women's Division | Indoor Cricket | ||
| 2019 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | New South Wales | Darwin Barra's | ? | ? | – |
| 2018 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | New South Wales | Desert Eagles | Brothers in Arms | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2017 | Alice Springs | Victoria | New South Wales | Tennant Creek | Red Centre Wranglers | Bush Potatoes | ? |
| 2016 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | New South Wales | Alice Springs | Reclink Rebels | Bush Potatoes | Anmatjere Eagles |
| 2015 | Alice Springs | Western Australia | New South Wales | All Sorts | Reclink Rebels | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2014 | Alice Springs | Western Australia | New South Wales | Darwin | All Sorts | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2013 | Alice Springs | Queensland | New South Wales | Darwin | All Sorts | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2012 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | New South Wales | Darwin | Brothers in Arms | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2011 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | New South Wales | Maranoa Murris | Gap Angels | Bush Potatoes | – |
| 2010 | Alice Springs | Western Australia | New South Wales | Alkupitja | Tanami Flying Miners | – | – |
| 2009 | Alice Springs | Queensland | New South Wales | Alkupitja | Tangentyere | New South Wales | – |
| 2008 | Alice Springs | Queensland | New South Wales | Katherine | Cooktown | New South Wales | – |
| 2007 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | – | Alkupitja | Cat Tigers | CGA Cougars | – |
| 2006 | Alice Springs | Queensland | – | Alice Springs | Melville Island | Darwin | – |
| 2005 | Alice Springs | Queensland | – | Alice Springs | Alkupitja | Darwin | – |
| 2004 | Alice Springs | Queensland | – | Alice Springs | Normanton | Tennant Creek | – |
| 2003 | Alice Springs | New South Wales | – | Darwin | – | – | – |
| 2002 | Alice Springs | Northern Territory | – | Darwin | – | – | – |
| 2001 | Alice Springs | Tasmania | – | – | – | – | – |
