Earlier this week Edgbaston proudly hosted the 2018 launch of All Stars Cricket, the ECB’s programme to inspire the next generation of five to eight year-olds.
Year two of the programme kicked off at the Edgbaston Cricket Centre with 80 local participants, many from nearby Kings Heath Cricket Club, enjoying a mass All Stars Cricket session. They were joined by current and former stars including England white-ball Captain Eoin Morgan, World Cup winning wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and former England internationals Isa Guha and Michael Vaughan.
The players also faced a press conference with a difference as the kids quizzed their heroes in an event hosted by BBC CBeebies presenter and All Stars Ambassador Ben Cajee.
The first time you experience the game is a moment you will never forget. Tens of thousands of kids have that to look forward to and I can’t wait to see hundreds of them at England games over the summer.
Eoin Morgan
All Stars Cricket is all about ensuring that kids and their families have a great first experience of the game down at their local club.
Matt Dwyer, ECB Director of Participation and Growth said: “The fact that 20,000 parents have already signed up their kids for All Stars Cricket is incredibly encouraging. We are introducing a new generation of cricketers to the game and that starts with a great first experience at their local club. We will follow that up by introducing formats and ways to play to ensure that young people are having a quality, fun game every time they play.”
37,000 children enjoyed the ground-breaking first year of All Stars Cricket and 2018 looks set to be even bigger and better with 20,000 signed up with more than six weeks remaining until the programme begins in mid-May, with more than 2,000 clubs across England and Wales set to take part.
Eoin Morgan added: “The first time you experience the game is a moment you will never forget. Tens of thousands of kids have that to look forward to and I can’t wait to see hundreds of them at England games over the summer.”
Jo Malcolm, a volunteer at Kings Heath Cricket Club, said: “All Stars has had a massive impact on our club. We’ve used it as an opportunity to engage with the local community and rejuvenate our club by growing the youth section. It was an amazing experience and it was great to see the enjoyment on the kids’ faces every week. We can’t wait for this year.”
