Gillespie, Rolton take cricket to the Tiwi Islands

Two great Australian cricketers Jason Gillespie and Karen Rolton will visit the Tiwi Islands next week to host the region's first MILO Cricket Superclinic.

The Tiwi Islands, located 80 kilometres north of Darwin, will see more than 200 children from remote Indigenous communities learn the basics of the game on 25 June.

The MILO Superclinic is expected to provide many Indigenous children from the Nguiu, Ranku, Milikapiti and Pirlingimpi communities with their first cricket experience.

Gillespie, one of the few Indigenous cricketers to have represented Australia since the 1868 Aboriginal Tour of England, said the clinic will provide more opportunities for Indigenous Australians to become involved with the game.

"Cricket has always been an important part of my life and that of many others around the country," Gillespie said.

"The sport has so much to offer we need to ensure all Australians, from the city to outback and remote regions, have the opportunity to experience the skills and enjoyment of our great game.

"The MILO Cricket programs, with its emphasis on participation, fun and learning, are the ideal way to introduce the game to the young players," he said.

Cricket is developing a healthy profile in far northern Australia. The Tiwi Islands participated in the recent Imparja Cup, an all-Indigenous cricket carnival comprising six state and territory teams and six regional representative sides.

Australian fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee has also visited the region to carry out development work with the Northern Territory Cricket Association (NTCA).

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the Tiwi Islands Superclinic is an important step in promoting the game to all Australians.

"MILO Superclinics form part of the ACB's strategic plan to develop the game across all boundaries. Taking the game to every corner of the country is essential for cricket's future development," he said.

The Tiwi children will join another half a million young Australians who experience cricket each year through the ACB MILO Cricket program.

Eight MILO Cricket Superclinics are held every year in each Australian state and territory. The Tiwi Islands clinic is the seventh MILO Superclinic held this season. Western Australia will host the final Superclinic in the coming months.

The MILO Cricket Superclinics are part of the broad group of MILO Cricket programs which include:

The Tiwi Islands MILO Cricket Superclinic will be held at Stanley Tipiloura Oval beginning at 1000.