England stars urge kids to get playing cricket!

The latest ECB campaign is encouraging more people to find their way to play, no matter if that is casual cricket at home, in the street, at the local park, at school, or at a local club or community project.

England stars and school children have joined forces to urge more kids to pick up a bat and ball - showcasing all the ways in which people play cricket:

• in the back garden,
• at school,
• in the park,
• in the street,
• on the beach
• or at their local club.

England captains Ben Stokes and Heather Knight feature in a new video, alongside Men's legend and record wicket-taker Jimmy Anderson and England Men's Deaf team international Joel Harris.

Source: ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board). Image: Sport England.

In what is set to be a record year for kids' participation in cricket, they appear alongside school children with the ambition of inspiring even more children to take up the sport, by giving their own perspectives on what cricket is to them, from playing in packed out stadiums to playing in the back garden with friends and family.

Alongside the new video, the ECB has collaborated with the campaigning organisation Playing Out to raise awareness of how local communities can safely close roads for outside play, encouraging them to get active and enjoy the game safely even in areas where outdoor space is limited. Links to Playing Out's materials will be available through the ECB website to make it easier for communities to act.

The Play section of the ECB site contains support and materials for anyone who wants to get into cricket, or return to the sport, with information on clubs and community projects close to your home, materials for schools, or simply ideas on how you can play in the back garden or street.

Source: ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board). Image: Sport England.