Report: Birmingham & District Premier League XI v Bears
Warwickshire’s visit to Kenilworth Wardens to face a Birmingham League XI was a great success as an excellent crowd saw the Bears win by 54 runs.
It was an entertaining, competitive match and, just as importantly, many young players were given a day to remember as the Bears squad conducted coaching sessions before the game. View scorecard here.
England stars Chris Woakes and Dom Sibley were among the players handing out tips to the young cricketers and helping to provide a memorable day.
Wardens Chairman Anthony Pidgeon said: “To see the kids with some of their heroes was fantastic. It was amazing to see the smiles on their faces and they all went away with a memory that will last a long, long time.
“I knew the main event, the match, would be great and it was, but for me the afternoon was the best because that’s what the day was about, getting the kids engaged with the professionals.
“That’s what is so brilliant about cricket because the top names are so happy to give their time. Chris Woakes did some coaching with the bowlers and Dom Sibley with the batters and the kids’ faces were a picture.
“Paul Farbrace was tremendous in setting the day up and the whole day was a superb. I’d like to thank all our wonderful volunteers who helped make it so special and it was great to see the engagement with club cricket from Warwickshire.”
A similar event will take place at Coventry & North Warwickshire in August and Bears Director of Cricket Farbrace says last night’s roadshow will be the first of many in years to come.
“It went really well,” he said, “It was great to see so many people, especially kids, there and all of us from the Bears thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We were able to bring along pretty much a full first-team squad and lots of kids came to the coaching sessions and it was lovely to see them all so engaged and happy.
“It was a good game against a strong Birmingham League side and the whole day was really enjoyable. It shows that we are serious about how much we appreciate our local clubs and want to engage with them and build those links.
“We intend these days to become regular fixtures in the diary. We want to play both the Birmingham League and Warwickshire League every year so that every club gets an opportunity to host a game so there will be more opportunities for kids to meet their heroes and the best players in the League to play against the Bears and make an impression on the coaches.”
