Warwickshire’s County Table Cricket Tournament took off last week, with ten schools from around the region battling it out to win a place at the Lord’s Taverners Regional Finals and earn the chance to make it grand final at Lord’s.
The table cricket competition is an initiative funded by the Lord’s Taverners and is designed to offer children with neurodiverse conditions and physical disabilities the opportunity to play sport that they may not otherwise get.
The competition has several stages, including county and regional qualifiers all around the country, with the two best teams battling it out at Lord’s in the summer for the table cricket trophy.
Nigel Perry-Ogden from the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation said: “It’s a great opportunity for the participants to come to Edgbaston and experience what a pro setting is like whilst meeting like-minded individuals and having some fun in a competitive but safe setting.”
“Whether kids are neurodivergent or have physical disability, it is important to learn how to win, lose and be successful, and days like these, in a safe environment surrounded by people that understand their needs, is a great place to learn these life skills.”
Table cricket was invented in 1990 by Doug Williamson, a former Paralympic swimming coach for Team GB.
It was then adopted by the Lords Taverners in 2003 and has grown ever since, with over 8,000 children participating nationwide each year.
The current competition system was established in 2012, with Victoria School in Poole being the most successful, winning three tournaments back-to-back between 2013/15.
Birmingham has had one winning representative in that time, with Wilson Stuart School from Perry Common victorious in 2017.
Current student of Wilson Stuart and table cricketer Alex said: “It’s really fun, using communication, independence and tactics. Bringing everyone together and having fun.”
“Winning makes me feel proud, and as a team proud all together.”
Perry-Ogden added: “These memories will stay with them forever. This could spark something in them, they might decide they’d like to come and play softball cricket, or watch some cricket at Edgbaston, and that’s what this programme is all about for me.”
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