Rapid growth of interest in girls' cricket (From Somerset County Gazette)

Rapid growth of interest in girls' cricket

7:58pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport Latest

GIRLS cricket in Somerset is very much a growing area of interest and everybody involved at the Somerset Cricket Board is delighted with the rising number of schools offering girls cricket, writes Richard Walsh.

This is evident in the growing number of secondary schools participating in this year’s girls indoor cricket competition.

Much of this success is down to the Chance to Shine campaign that is regenerating cricket in state schools.

Caroline Atkins, the recently appointed Somerset Women and Girls head coach, said: "This year we have had around 40 school teams enter across 12 local tournaments to decide winners for the next stage. Four years ago, there were so few entries that schools would go straight in to the County Finals.

"It’s brilliant that Chance to Shine is providing more girls the opportunity to play cricket in schools, and the Lady Taverners 8-a-side Indoor Girls Cricket Competition is a good measure of that success.

"I hope when we replicate the competition in the summer term that even more schools take part."

Women and Girls cricket is certainly a growing sport in terms of participation as well as the growing media interest.

The SCB Women and Girls coach can be contacted by email caroline.atkins@somersetcricketboard.org