Warwickshire County Cricket Club has joined the #raisethebat campaign, which highlights key workers from the world of cricket who have helped to support their local community during COVID-19.
Key workers who have been nominated by their cricket clubs will be featured on over 300 billboards across England and Wales. Meanwhile the whole cricket family has been asked to shine a light on the many more key workers who deserve recognition by using #raisethebat on social media.
The campaign features billboards with England cricketers, including World Cup winners Heather Knight and Moeen Ali, raising their bat in recognition of these amazing people. The players have also paid tribute with personalised video messages to nominated key workers who are local to them.
Dr Ali Nasir who is the Event Doctor for the Club on Major Match Days at Edgbaston and is part of the team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham features alongside other unsung heroes including Holly Buxton, Club Secretary at Calder Grove Cricket Club in Yorkshire.
Dr Ali has been very much at the frontline of CVID-19 outbreak so far. Such is his commitment to his work that he has recently returned to work after making a full recovery from the virus.
As the Major Match Event Doctor, the level of commitment, professionalism and compassion that Dr Ali brings to the major match days at Edgbaston significantly enhances the matchday experience for everyone that comes into contact with him. During last year’s Ashes Test match he saved the life of at least one seriously ill spectator and ensured that the follow-up treatment was appropriate for that individual.
#raisethebat is part of the game-wide Together Through This Test initiative which was launched to support and celebrate the cricket family during Covid-19.
Clare Connor, ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, who is leading the campaign said: “It has truly been humbling to read the nominations which have shone a light on the tireless work of nurses, teachers, care workers and supermarket staff who have responded to this crisis without hesitation.
“We know there are many more unsung heroes out there so we’re encouraging people to highlight the contribution of anyone from their cricket club or community who they feel deserves recognition.”
Clare Connor, ECB
Warwickshire CCC and the ECB are asking people to use social media, and the hashtag #raisethebat, to share stories of other key workers within the cricket family who deserve recognition.
The #raisethebat campaign is set to run until July 8.
Visit ecb.co.uk/covid-19 to find out more about resources available to you and how you can get involved in cricket-led community initiatives in your region.
