Rosy future on the cards for budding sports champions

But last week, the Worcester News revealed county schools had won funding for activities as diverse as frisbee, pilates and martial arts - something of a shift from the traditional sports.

On the same day, Worcester MP Mike Foster criticised the lack of competitive cricket matches for state schools.

So what is the future for school cricket?

A cricket fan and New Road regular, Mr Foster was speaking as he gave his backing to the Chance to Shine scheme.

The initiative is a simple premise - cricket clubs offering schoolchildren free coaching, with a third of all state schools benefiting in a decade's time.

It is hoped this will revive cricket among schoolchildren and eventually eat into the 80 per cent of the population who are not interested in the sport.

"I absolutely support the aims of Chance to Shine and want to see more competitive cricket played in local schools," he said. "In doing so, the future health of cricket and the nation will be improved.

"It is the ultimate team game, crossing boundaries of gender race and class. It is vital that local schools play cricket competitively and this is what the scheme is all about."

But, with a far greater variety of games and activities on offer, what of the current state of England's schools' traditional summer sport?

Mr Foster may have described cricket as the 'ultimate team game', but only 10 per cent of state schools in the country currently play regular, formal cricket fixtures each summer.

Happily, the situation across Worcestershire is far brighter.

There are currently three school Kwik Cricket competitions, Under 15 and Under 13 cup competitions and an all-girl tournament - with more than 120 entrants in total.

In addition:

l State schools play public schools in Worcester at all age groups up to 15, banishing the perception that it is only an upper and middle class game

l In one competition, state and independent schools are in separate sides of the draw so one of each will be in the final

l Many cricket clubs 'pitch-share' with schools to widen the use of facilities

And the situation in Worcester is even rosier, with a city high school league meaning all secondary pupils play competitively.

Nunnery Wood High School, in Spetchley Road, emphasised this success two weeks ago in the Under 13 cup, beating Bromsgrove - a leading independent school - in the final.

Mike Perry, Nunnery Wood's head of PE, admitted there were difficulties for state schools, such as a lack of specialist coaches and facilities, notably nets and grass wickets, but said the talent and enthusiasm was there.

"What tends to happen is that our better players are already playing for clubs when they come to us," he said. "But it's important to stress that in Worcester, state school cricket is stronger than in most areas and we produce good cricket teams."

Stuart Lampitt, former Worcestershire all-rounder and now the county's cricket development officer, agreed, adding that school cricket was set to receive a further boost.

"We are currently recruiting three part-time coaches to go into schools across Worcestershire," he said. "Their role is not only to stimulate interest and participation at grass roots level, but to teach cricket skills and extend links between schools and clubs."

The coaches will start in September - in the new school year - funded by £81,000 from a combination of Government schemes, sponsors Apollo 2000 and the English Cricket Board.

Phil Newport, another former Worcestershire county cricketer and now Royal Grammar School First XI coach, agreed with this verdict.

"We play schools like Bishop Perowne and Christopher Whitehead and the main difference is that we have a slightly more organised fixture list," he said.

This reassuring verdict comes just days after Worcestershire signed 21-year-old Daryl Mitchell from Badsey, near Evesham, who has been playing since the age of 11.

Proof, if needed, that cricket in Worcestershire's schools is right on track.