It’s the trophy that England’s One-Day side will be dreaming of lifting, but over 50 Junior Outlaws have had an early opportunity to get up close to the prestigious Cricket World Cup trophy, as the ICC’s ‘Trophy Tour’ made its latest stop in Nottingham.
The youngsters also took part in cricket activity sessions on the hallowed Trent Bridge turf, alongside Outlaws Ben Duckett, Ben Slater and Zak Chappell, as well as Kirstie Gordon, Sonia Odedra and Amy Gauvrit of Nottinghamshire Women.
They were then joined by winners of competitions run by Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Visit Nottingham for photos with the iconic silverware.
“Today is a great chance for our Junior Outlaws to get onto the outfield and get a taste of what our players experience,” said Mandy Wright, Nottinghamshire’s Community and Development Manager.
“The Junior Outlaws idolise the players, so it’s brilliant to have some of them here today.
“In particular, it’s really important that we’ve got players from the senior women’s team here; they’re great role models for young girls who are passionate about the game.
“It’s not very often that the World Cup comes to Trent Bridge, so having the trophy here gives us a unique opportunity to inspire a love of cricket in the youngsters here today.”
Dignitaries from Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council were also in attendance to greet the trophy.
“Trent Bridge is a wonderful place, and as a cricket fan myself I understand how fantastic an experience this must be for the Junior Outlaws,” said Cllr Maureen Stockwood, Mayor of Rushcliffe.
“We’ve always been proud that this ground is in our area, and the buzz that international cricket brings around here is fantastic.
“It’s a real must-visit destination for cricket-lovers around the world, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming them this summer for the World Cup.”
The World Cup Trophy tour will also be making stops at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, the Harold Larwood statue in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and the Robin Hood Statue and Victoria Centre in Nottingham City centre before continuing its journey around the UK, finishing in London on 19th May.
The tournament itself begins on 30th May, with Trent Bridge hosting five games including the clash between Pakistan and tournament favourites England on 3rd June.
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Limited seats are available for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 matches at Trent Bridge. Purchase your tickets through the Official CWC19 Ticketing Website.