MCC & Chance to shine give 1,000 kids a day’s cricket

Date released: 12 June 2007

A thousand kids will come to Lord’s on 13th June to enjoy a one-day match between Middlesex Crusaders and Sussex Sharks as part of a campaign to regenerate competitive cricket in state schools.

The children, from 24 schools in London and five in Sussex, will watch the Friends Provident Trophy match as guests of MCC. They will also visit the world-famous MCC Museum, home of the Ashes urn and currently hosting a Brian Lara Exhibition, and test their batting, bowling and fielding skills in the MCC Spirit of Cricket Road Show featuring the Cricket Factory when it makes its debut appearance at Lord's.

The idea came from Jack Jacobs, an MCC Member and Chance to shine ambassador, whose belief in the power of sport to bring people together has been successfully established within football programmes he has introduced in the Gaza Strip involving the Israeli and Palestinian Arab communities.

He said: “The MCC Chance to shine Day will help children make new friends, meet people from other backgrounds and communities and develop a passion for cricket and its values. It’s something I hope we can do every year.”

The schools are all taking part in Chance to shine, a ten-year campaign run by the Cricket Foundation to re-introduce competitive cricket in state schools in England and Wales. This year the campaign will introduce more than 90,000 children in 1,200 schools to cricket.

Nick Gandon, Director of the Cricket Foundation, said: “Chance to shine is not about finding the next England stars but helping children to develop as leaders, team players and strategists while learning to win, lose and handle those things they might perceive to be unfair. Watching a major match at Lord’s will inspire the children to commit to cricket and learn from our great game.”

Keith Bradshaw, MCC's Secretary & Chief Executive, said: “It doesn’t matter who you are; no one ever forgets their first day at 'The Home of Cricket' and we’re all delighted that we can provide that unique experience for so many children. It will show them where they could end up if they work hard at their game; it is important to give young people such opportunities and aspirations.”