Keep cricket strong in schools

KCSS Day – Chris Martin at St Albans School.

The inaugural Keep Cricket Strong campaign in October 2007 saw 107 players, including Blackcaps and White Ferns, visit 173 schools throughout the country.

This year, Cricket08, will once again profile cricket as a game and acknowledge the significant contribution schools and individuals make to growing and sustaining the game and developing players.

This year’s ‘cric-ulum day’ is Wednesday, 15th October, when 15 players will be visiting over 120 schools throughout the country.

Last year, players met 14,000 children and numerous teachers, and engaged in an amazing array of activities which were fun for all involved.

Blackcap Jacob Oram was delighted to be involved as it gave him an opportunity to return to the place he developed his love for the game.

“School cricket was a massive stepping stone for me in my development as it gave me a chance to pit my skills against my peers, as well as learning vital behaviours like discipline, sacrifice and goal setting,” he said.

“However, the most important thing that I got from school cricket was enjoyment. Playing with my school mates was a massive source of fun and enjoyment for me and I made some great friends during this time.”

White Ferns Nicola Browne was also involved in 2007 and will be again in 2008.

Nicola Browne, recently nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Year, said: “For me, school is where my cricket started and why I took up the sport.

“So in that case, it has been very important in my development. It is where I learnt the rules and basic skills and tactics of the game. I started in Form Three and at the end of Form Seven I had made the White Ferns, so my whole development phase took place while at school.”

Next year, the MILO Kiwi Cricket Kids will display their skills at the six Blackcaps v India National Bank Series matches in March and April, 2009.

The kids programme promotes the game and recognises the role of schools in delivering the game and developing players.

Last year, 800 boys and girls who played Milo Kiwi Cricket either for their schools or junior clubs, and over 100 teachers and parent coaches demonstrated their cricket skills on some of the country’s major cricket grounds.

The players were well received by appreciative and enthusiastic crowds at the innings break of each of the five National Bank ODI Series Blackcaps v England matches.

Mark Robson, coach of Auckland University Cricket Club, said: “Thanks for giving the kids such a wonderful opportunity which they will remember for the rest of their lives. I cannot begin to explain how excited my team was on the day, the kids were fizzing.”

Jessica Roberts, one of the players from Mangatangi School, Waikato Valley, who went to the Hamilton match said: “It was fun playing on the cricket pitch in the break time. It was such a brilliant feeling when the crowd OOOOhed and AAAAhed as we smashed those balls for sixes.”

Schools located near the venues – Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Napier – or those who would be interested in attending should contact their local cricket association Community Cricket co-­ordinator.