Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
With lockdowns set to lift and the cricket season on its way, Cricket NSW is encouraging households across the state to get ready to play by being part of NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket on Saturday, October 9.
Cricket registrations are now open and local clubs and Woolworths Cricket Blast centres are busily preparing to welcome back players for the season ahead.
As the excitement builds, NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket is a chance for everyone – families, flatmates and even singletons – to get active, have a laugh and experience a form of the sport which everyone can play, even if you don’t have access to a cricket bat, stumps or a ball.
Cricket NSW has teamed with 7NEWS and 7Cricket, with the support of Cricket Australia, to create an event that will encourage everyone to play their own form of backyard cricket and whet the appetite for the season to come.
The initiative will be a precursor to February’s National Backyard Cricket Day for the LBW Trust, where all of Australia will come together to inspire Australians to pick up a bat and ball this summer.
The LBW Trust is a charity organisation creating transformational change through education, providing tertiary education opportunities to disadvantaged students.
Leading the charge for NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket is NSW and Australian star Nathan Lyon, who along with NSW Blues housemates Liam Hatcher and Daniel Hughes, has been enjoying some backyard cricket during the winter months as a resident of Greater Sydney.
“Everyone across the state is counting down the days until COVID-19 restrictions ease and the start of the community cricket season, so what better way to prepare for both than getting involved in NSW’s Greatest Game of Backyard Cricket,” Lyon said.
“The best thing about backyard cricket is that you can make up your own rules to reflect the space you have at home and the amount of people playing. If you don’t have cricket equipment, backyard cricket is about improvising, so think about using a bin or the fence for stumps, socks for a ball, and a piece of wood as the bat.”
As part of NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket, newly announced Women’s Big Bash League naming-rights partner, Weber Barbecues, have provided a number of prizes for those who get involved on Saturday October 9.
To be in the running to win the major prize of a Weber Spirit II E320 plus an all-new Weber Traveler or one of eleven $100 Weber.com vouchers, participants need to REGISTER HERE for the Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket and then post on the Cricket NSW Facebook Event page their video entry for the most creative wicket-taking celebration that occurred during their game of backyard cricket on October 9.
“I’ve been involved in plenty of memorable wicket-taking celebrations during my career, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing the thought and creativity that go into these entries as part of NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket,” Lyon concluded.
NSW’s Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket provides the perfect opportunity for people to do something fun and engaging explained Joanne Scanlon, Cricket NSW General Manager – Community Cricket Experiences.
“Cricket is Australia’s favourite summer sport which everyone can enjoy, irrespective of age, background, ability or where they live in NSW,” Scanlon said.
“While many will still be in lockdown on October 9, the Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket is a light-hearted initiative to get everyone across NSW to prioritise their health and wellbeing, and do a fun activity together.
“Whether it’s for 10 minutes or an hour, Cricket NSW is encouraging everyone to stage their own game of backyard cricket on Saturday October 9 and join their fellow News South Welshmen as we prepare for the start of the new cricket season and a great summer of local and international cricket.”
Whether you play every year, haven’t played for a while, or brand new to cricket – there is a cricket program and competition to suit everyone. For information or to register for your local club, head to Play.Cricket.com.au.
