All Stars Cricket set to knock youngsters for six

By Harrison Burridge

Kids across the Swindon area will be bowled over when the new All Stars Cricket season starts.

This will be the second year of the new scheme for five to eight year olds after the English Cricket Board introduced it in 2017. The aim of the programme, which runs in Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton and Swindon, is to draw children to the game early on in their lives providing them with the passion to play for life. According to the organisers children starting cricket at an early stage helps develop physical and social skills and will help shape the players and fans of tomorrow. The scheme also encourages parents to be involved. Currently 948 children have signed up to the programme across 32 clubs in Wiltshire and the chance to apply still hasn’t closed yet for some clubs. All Stars is backed by English cricket stars Jonny Bairstow and Laura Winfield and each session has been developed by former England captain and now Director of England Cricket, Andrew Strauss. Phil Duffel, the activator for All Stars at Purton CC, said: “All Stars sessions at clubs like Purton CC give youngsters the chance to master the basics of batting, bowling and fielding. But most important of all they are great fun and will hopefully give boys and girls a love of the game which will help cricket to flourish in the local area.” Joshua Boulton, the All Stars Cricket Champion for Wiltshire, added: “All Stars Cricket has introduced a new generation of cricketers and families to the sport of cricket, focussing on fun and long-term development of young children. Each session is based on engaging every child and their parent in all the key cricket skills and adapting cricket for a new generation.” Contact: Swindon: [email protected] or 07780603096 Purton: [email protected] or 07834376321 Wootton Bassett: [email protected] or 07894727226 All Stars: www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars