BABBACOMBE’S junior section recently hosted an ECB-supported event to celebrate the Cricket World Cup.
More than 30 families attended the event, designed to promote the World Cup and the legacy it has created to grow the game of cricket in general.
Twenty primary school-aged youngsters enjoyed a free Kwik Cricket softball session that the club have been running over the school summer term.
After a barbecue, the current under-15 squad entertained the families with a ten-a-side hardball match. The event was used as an opportunity for the official handover of the new sponsored kit to the juniors.
A representative of Premier Park, a Newton Abbot-based private parking solutions company, made the presentation.
Paul Bates, the junior cricket coordinator, then presented a framed shirt for the company's offices.
Bates said the coloured kit was contributed towards the club’s efforts to make cricket more exciting and attractive to youngsters.
“We have used zing light-up bails, pink balls and now our new coloured kit this season, to try to replicate the more entertaining side of the game the young players have seen in the World Cup,” said Bates.
Bates was one of the Babbacombe stalwarts who restarted youth cricket at Walls Hill around five years ago. He said the success of the World Cup event showed the growth in junior cricket at the club in a relatively short time.
“We have had more than 30 children attending our free Kwik Cricket sessions on Friday nights,” said Bates.
“We have run two teams associated with the South Devon Youth Cricket League and, perhaps what is most rewarding is, we are now seeing our youngsters making the transition to adult cricket.”
A dozen or so juniors have played adult cricket this year; two of whom, Matt Kierman and Will Biddles, have made their 1st XI debuts.
Nick Goodwin, the Babbacombe chairman, said it was fantastic to see the event so well attended.
Goodwin added: “More importantly it was a sign that the game of cricket can still be popular with young people, and that Babbacombe CC is playing a part in that development.”
Anyone interested in joining Babbacombe's junior section, should contact Bates via babbacombeccjuniors@gmail.com
