MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge goes to Sri Lanka

Date released: 10 October 2007

The MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge programme will break new ground this December with the introduction of a three-day children’s cricket camp near Galle, Sri Lanka.

The Challenge – a coaching and playing programme designed to introduce primary schoolchildren to cricket – has been running in the UK since 1999.

Coinciding with the England Test tour to Sri Lanka, this will be the first time MCC’s programme has taken place overseas.

Around 120 boys and girls from the Hikkaduwa area of Sri Lanka will attend the camp, where qualified coaches will introduce them to the game by teaching basic cricket skills and drills.

Central to the camp will be the MCC Spirit of Cricket ‘play hard, play fair’ message endorsed by the game’s best players, including Mahela Jayawardene and Andrew Flintoff.

Keith Bradshaw: Increasing opportunities Keith Bradshaw, MCC’s Secretary & Chief Executive, said: “Holding an MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge Camp in Sri Lanka is an exciting development for the Club, a strengthening of our links with the region and a further commitment to developing the game around the world.

“MCC’s ties to Sri Lanka have always been strong. After the Tsunami disaster in 2004, the Club was pro-active in its response, resulting in around £650,000 being raised to help fund a variety of recovery projects.

"I’m pleased that the Sri Lankan cricket camp will be held at an MCC-sponsored ground in Hikkaduwa, near the MCC Centre of Excellence, and will bring an opportunity to play the game to many children who would not otherwise get the chance.”

The MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge is endorsed by the Government and was nominated for ‘Best Grassroots Initiative’ at the 2007 Sport Industry Awards.

Official endorsement: Gerry Sutcliffe MP The Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, said: “Grassroots initiatives play a vital role in inspiring children to get involved in sport from an early age.

"The MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge introduces cricket to those who haven’t played before, giving them the chance to learn more about the game and start developing skills they can take into the future.”

MCC Spirit of Cricket in Sri Lanka

• The Sri Lankan MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge Camp will take place from 15th – 17th December at Sri-Sumangala College, Hikkaduwa – an MCC-sponsored ground near Galle. The third Sri Lanka v England Test Match will start in Galle a day later, on 18th December.

• The MCC Centre of Excellence was opened in June this year by the Sri Lankan Test Captain, Mahela Jayawardene. The Centre provides facilities in the fields of business, education, medicine and sport.

• MCC helped to fund this Centre with the proceeds of the Tsunami relief match, staged at Lord’s in June 2005. The game featured 22 of the world’s best cricketers, including Shane Warne, Brian Lara and Chaminda Vaas.

• Until the country gained Test status in 1982, MCC and England regularly sent teams to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) to play cricket and help develop the game in the region. Over the years, tours were led by Lord Harris in 1880 (a team that included the great WG Grace), Ivo Bligh (of Ashes Urn fame) in 1882-83, MJK Smith in 1965-66 and Colin Cowdrey in 1968-69.

• MCC has over 22,000 Members worldwide.

• The MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge in 2007 took place in eleven areas of England and one in Wales. Both the UK and Sri Lankan projects are delivered by TomTom nation, the specialist grassroots agency.