ABERYSTWYTH Cricket Club has seen one of the best responses of all cricket clubs across Wales following the launch of a nationwide junior cricket initiative.

All Stars Cricket is a coaching scheme set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) aimed at introducing children to the game.

After its launch in March, almost 35,000 children between the ages of five and eight are learning to play cricket across the UK, including 54 at Aberystwyth Cricket Club, based at the idyllic Cae Geufron, Llanbadarn Fawr.

The response represents the best figures for any club in the north Wales district, and one of the best in Wales, according to club chairman Andi Price.

“It has been great. We have had a couple of teething problems with the sheer numbers, but we have got through that now and the kids are thoroughly enjoying it.

“We have had volunteers from the club coming down to help out, and we wouldn’t have been able to run this without their help.”

In addition to the eight weekly sessions, every child who is signed up — for a fee of £40 — receives a “bonus participant pack” including a backpack, a cricket bat, a cricket ball, a personalised shirt with their name printed on it, a cap, and a water bottle.

Every child earns stars as the weeks progress that match the skills learned during the programme, including batting, catching, throwing, bowling, running, teamwork, communication, and the spirit of cricket.

All of the session activities are supplemented by special video messages from England players including England’s Test captain Joe Root, bowler Stuart Broad and Women’s World Cup England squad members Laura Marsh and Natalie Sciver.

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