Starting out some 17 years ago as a Northern Territory cricket competition between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, hundreds of people travelled from across Australia to watch and compete in the proudly indigenous week-long Imparja Cup.

Captained by the last Aborigine to wear the Baggy Green, a group of Australian cricketing legends tested their skills against some of Australia's best indigenous players for the opening of the event.

Retired fast bowler Jason Gillespie said a lot of people did not recognise him as an Aborigine.

"I'm not a full blood, but (the culture) is something our family holds dear,'' he told AAP tonight.

"I think, ideally, Cricket Australia are looking to get some full blooded Aborigines playing for Australia.

"Cricket has always been this Anglo-Saxon game, brought over by the English ... and to be able to get the game spread into all parts of Australia, I think it's great.''

He said he hoped the competition would provide the many talented indigenous players with a "bit of notoriety''.

Retired opening batsman Matthew Hayden confronted not only Gillespie, but also fellow cricketing stars Matthew Elliot, Greg Matthews and Len Pascoe, on the pitch when he sided with the Indigenous 11 side.

Before the 20-20 game, Gillespie told AAP he wasn't looking forward to taking Hayden on.

"He always belts me whenever I bowl to him, so,'' he said.

The All-Stars side, captained by Gillespie, was four for 118 after their 20 innings.

Local politicians are even intending to weigh in on the action.

NT Minister for Sport and Central Australia, Karl Hampton, who was born in Alice Springs, will play for the Darwin side later this week.

"Cricket is well and truly alive,'' Mr Hampton said.

Cricket Australia game development general manager Damien Bown (Bown) said the Imparja Cup was an opportunity to celebrate cricket and indigenous culture in a setting that enabled the two to be fused.

"Cricket is becoming a lot more accessible to people in remote locations,'' he told AAP.

"Cricket Australia's vision is for cricket to become Australia's favourite sport and in order to achieve that we need it to be a sport for all Australia.''