Headingley Ashes Test focuses on participation and inclusion in cricket at all levels
Friday 13 September 2019 14:46, UK
The Ashes clash at Headingley is Sky's Participation Test as we look at inclusion in cricket at a number of levels.
From disability cricket to participation among the South Asian community, as well as a focus on the legacy of England's dramatic World Cup win, a peek at talented up-and-coming players at the Bunbury Festival, and cricket for women and girls, we have covered a host of areas.
Check out all of our feature videos below for more on participation and inclusion across cricket.
Cricket for Girls
Former England cricket Lydia Greenway moved from playing cricket to setting up an initiative to get girls playing the sport.
"Girls like to play a sport which is in an engaging environment," Greenway explained. "With their peers and friends and if they're coached by a female I think that makes a huge difference in terms of continued participation."
With rounders being taken off the curriculum for girls, a lot of schools are shifting to cricket. It means there is an added need to train up teachers and create new pathways for girls taking up cricket at school level.
Nasser Hussain believes playing cricket for girls "became cool" after England Women won the World Cup at a sold-out Lord's in 2017 with the sport growing exponentially in the two years since.
"The real challenge has become how successful playing cricket has become for girls," Nasser said. "Up until the age of 13 or 14 they would have been playing with their friends and then suddenly it becomes a bit more elitist. There needs to be more girls teams going forward."
Chance to Shine
Cricket for everyone - played anywhere, anytime.
That's the ethos behind Chance to Shine, a national cricket charity that works in state schools and communities.
Around 200 girls and boys from all over the country attended the Chance to Shine National Street Finals earlier this summer - as well as England's Liam Plunkett, Alex Hartley and Tom Curran.
Chief Executive Laura Cordingley said: "NatWest and Chance to Shine have partnered together for the 'No Boundaries' campaign, which is really about making cricket accessible and equal for everyone."
England's physical disability side
As England played in the final of the Physical Disability T20 World Series against India, we caught up with the side, their coach and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison to see how the game is growing. England lost to India in the showpiece game after seeing off Afghanistan in the semis but that only left them more determined go one better next time.
Skipper Iain Nairn hopes disability cricket can be showcased alongside men's and women's cricket or at world events so a new audience can see the skills throughout the game, while Harrison explains how PD cricket has developed in the last four years with now over 62,000 players involved in the sport across the country.
All-rounder Liam O'Brien says disabled people in England have a team they can look up to and aspire to be part of, while coach Ian Salisbury champions his players' talent as well as saying their commitment is "beyond compare".
We also find out why Matt Askin has become more successful since batting without his prosthetic arm, and the vital role the ECB's head of disability cricket, Ian Martin, has had in developing and supporting the sport.
The Super 1s initiative
"There is no reason disabled people can't make a huge contribution to cricket. Cricket is a game for everybody and can genuinely change people's lives." So says Mark Bond, a programme manager for the Lord's Taverners' Super 1s scheme, which has been set up to give disabled people between 12 and 25 the chance to play cricket regularly.
Super 1s was established in London in 2013 but is now active across the country at a host of community cricket hubs, such as the one we visited in York. Young people are able to showcase and boost their skills, improve their mental and physical well-being, meet new people in new environments and engage with positive role models.
Kian, a Super 1s participant, told us: "I have been tested for autism and this has helped me to get my anger out and not lash out and get upset. I am making new friends." Asked if cricket had changed his life, Kian gave a resounding "yes"!
Cricket World Cup Legacy
It was an unbelievable day - but how much will England's dramatic World Cup victory change the face of English cricket?
We visited Low Moor Holy Trinity CC, a club that plays in the Halifax League and runs junior and senior programmes from All Stars to Saturday and Sunday sides, to find out.
It's just one club where the World Cup has proved a catalyst for change.
Tessa Whieldon, ECB league engagement executive, explains what is being done to help clubs open their doors during the summer and welcome families and the community.
The longer-term goal is to retain those captured by England's success and continue to engage them so they keep playing.
South Asian Action Plan
A Hindu temple in Bradford might not seem the most likely place to play cricket but then the South Asian Participation programme is all about pushing boundaries.
"We've taken All Stars to non-traditional cricket centres - showcasing that cricket has no barriers," says Justin Preston, programme executive of All Stars City. "We're also showcasing that we have a new diversified audience of volunteers with a focus on South Asian females."
The plan aims to engage more effectively with South Asian communities at every level of the game. It focused on 11 priorities spanning Recreational Cricket, Talent Development & Retention, Attendance, Administration, and Culture & Facilities.
Bunbury Festival 2019
Founded by David English, the 33rd annual Bunbury Festival, which gathers the best U15 cricketers in the country for a week of cricket, was held at Felsted School in Essex with Bunbury alumnus and England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, Alastair Cook, in attendance.
"It is an extraordinary week in your life," says Cook of the experience, which pits regional teams from the North, Midlands, London and East, and South and West against each other. The festival breeds England players of the future with no less than nine of England's World Cup-winning XI having played at the event. But who were the stars of the 2019 edition?
We followed the players' progress as well as heard from English, who also told an anecdote from a previous Bunbury Festival, which featured Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Perri Perri Sauce, a glass of cola and a rendition of Sweet Caroline atop a counter!
Wellbeing of Women
Every year at his Oxfordshire home, Sir Victor Blank hosts a pro-am cricket match to raise funds for Wellbeing of Women, a charity that invests in research into women's health.
The stars were out at the 31st running of the day, with Brian Lara, Andrew Strauss and our very own Michael Atherton playing. "I have been coming here a long time now," said Athers. "It raises a significant amount of money every year. It's a great day."
Sir Victor's annual celebrity match has now generated more than £8m for Wellbeing of Women, while allowing fans to play alongside their idols and old cricketing pals to catch up. Ex-England bowler Phil DeFreitas scored the winning six this time around but how did Athers view his dismissal?
Watch the Ashes live on Sky Sports The Ashes (channel 404) and Main Event (channel 401).
