All Stars Cricket is returning to Nottinghamshire in tandem with the brand new Dynamos Cricket programme to provide 5-to-11-year-olds with their ticket to a fun and active summer.
An opportunity for children aged five to eight to take their first steps in the sport, All Stars has been a hit success since its inception, with over 1350 children taking part in the programme in Notts in 2019, and registation is now open for 2021.
To help the transition beyond All Stars, the ECB has launched Dynamos Cricket, a new programme for children 8-11 of all abilities. Designed with kids’ needs in mind, Dynamos Cricket will see participants get active, have fun and make new friends while developing their cricketing skills and playing a fast-paced, exciting game of countdown cricket, mirroring the format of The Hundred, the Elite competition launching this season.
For parents and carers who want to give their children an opportunity to take advantage of these benefits and experience a summer of fun with friends, the ECB’s new Dynamos Cricket programme debuts on 7 May across the country with further programmes due to take place across the summer holidays.
In letters sent to all schools that deliver Chance to Shine, men’s World Cup Winner Chris Woakes and Sophie Ecclestone, the number one IT20 bowler in the world, who will also play in the first season of The Hundred this summer, explained the benefits of getting involved, from physical health to having fun with their friends. The duo hope to inspire kids to get active again after lockdown – and surprised pupils at their old schools by reading out the letters which explained what inspired them to get into cricket.
Woakes described just how difficult the year has been for him and his own two young daughters who he can’t wait to try playing cricket with in the future. Ecclestone discussed the impact that the limitations of the past year have had on her, and had the kids laughing when she revealed she’d once bowled their headteacher out first ball. She also discussed the challenges she faced as a young girl looking to get into sport and how she believes there have been huge changes since to help inspire more girls to take up cricket.
The Hundred is a brand new sporting event, fusing fast-paced 100-ball cricket with blockbuster entertainment. Featuring eight men's and eight women's teams, from seven cities across England and Wales, it aims to open up the game to more families and young people. Kids that sign up for Dynamos will receive priority access tickets for their family, as well as receiving a whole host of free gifts and money-can’t-buy experiences associated with the competition and its partners.
Parents can find out more about Dynamos Cricket and register their children to take part at dynamoscricket.co.uk. They can also sign up their younger kids up to All Stars Cricket at www.allstarscricket.co.uk
For more information about The Hundred and ticket access visit www.thehundred.com.