600 children from schools around the country visited Lord’s Cricket Ground on Monday 10th June as part of the annual Chance to Shine Schools’ Open Day supported by Yorkshire Tea. 

Pupils were joined by England cricket legend Matt Prior as they took part in a range of different activities at one of cricket’s most famous venue.

Prior joined the children first thing for an assembly with all 600 school children taking part in the celebration of cricket. The assembly taught the children about the values of cricket, focusing on teamwork, perseverance and fair play. Afterwards, the pupils took part in a range of activities including a tour of the Pavilion and J.P. Morgan Media Centre, cricket games in the MCC Cricket Academy and cake decorating in the Nursery Pavilion.

Chance to Shine and Yorkshire Tea work together to inspire thousands of children across the country to take part in cricketing activity in the classroom and on the playground. As well as inspiring pupils at the Schools’ Open Day, the two organisations work together to get schools all across the country playing cricket during Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week. The week takes place from 24 – 28 June this year and over 1,500 are expected to take part.Delivered in partnership with MCC’s Community Development department, the day included schools from Westminster who receive coaching from MCC’s Community Coaches. The schoolchildren all had the once in a lifetime opportunity to play cricket on the main Ground where the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final will take place this summer. 

Speaking at the event Prior said: “This has been a fanastatic day for the children involved and an incredibly inspiring visit. I treasure my memories playing at the most famous ground in the world and I hope that the children here today will have formed memories that will last with them for a long time.

“Chance to Shine, Yorkshire Tea and the MCC are doing some brilliant work here in giving opportunities to children and bringing them into the world of cricket.”

Nine-year-old Anaiah from Camelot Primary School in Peckham said “I’ve enjoyed today very much. My favourite thing about today was playing cricket. I felt really happy to meet Matt Prior.” Classmate Adnan said “It was great because we had lots of fun learning about cricket and the players. My favourite part of the day was playing cricket in the indoor school, I kept on catching the ball. Cricket is good, I like batting the most.”

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