BBC Sport supports 'Play-Cricket' and national Kwik Cricket tournament

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has joined forces with BBC Sport to promote two exciting grass roots initiatives designed to inspire more people to get into the sport.

The BBC Sport Kwik Cricket tournament is a national cricket competition for primary school children. Last year's tournament attracted more than 5,500 teams from across the country and it is hoped that over 60,000 year six boys and girls will take part in this year's event, the final of which will take place on 15 July 2003 at Trent Bridge.

The second initiative concerns Play-Cricket, the ECB Cricket Network found at www.play-cricket.com, a system which provides all ECB affiliated clubs and leagues with free administration systems and web-sites. The network hosts a rapidly growing base of over 1500 clubs and 150 leagues around the UK. BBC Sport will have a significant presence on the site, which is at the forefront of sports administration.

Play-Cricket is also developing extensive links with the BBC's network of local "Where I Live" web-sites. This partnership brings together the BBC's commitment to reflecting grass roots sport activity on its growing local web services, with the ECB's drive to raise the profile of local club cricket. In addition, BBC Sport will sponsor a club cricket 'Player of the Month' competition.

The deal forms part of the ECB's broadcast contract with BBC Sport which runs until 2005, and follows the BBC's successful support of the ECB's campaign to ensure wider provision of children's cricket safety helmets.

Tim Lamb, ECB Chief Executive, said, "We are delighted to have obtained BBC Sport's support for Play-Cricket as we see the system as a major tool to help the development of club cricket. Since its launch, the site has gone from strength to strength and has without doubt dramatically improved the efficiency of cricket administration at club level.

"Kwik Cricket has been one of the ECB's real success stories over the years. Launched in 1988, over 61,000 bags of Kwik Cricket kit have since been distributed and millions of children have been introduced to cricket this way. BBC's involvement will help to give the tournament the additional prestige and publicity it deserves."

Peter Salmon, Director BBC Sport, said, "BBC Sport is dedicated to supporting sport at the grass roots level. The ECB's initiatives are vitally important for the game and we are delighted to be involved with them."

Play-Cricket.com is a network of cricket websites and administrations systems. It provides all clubs, leagues and County Boards with customised cricket applications to make cricket administration and club management more efficient. Standard Administration systems are free to clubs and leagues with upgrade features available starting from £25 per annum per club.

The benefits for users are substantial. As well as facilitating communication amongst club members, there is significant time saving potential by offering online alternatives to existing processes (e.g. team e-mail, automated league tables, player availability etc). In addition, due to reduced telephone and post requirements, administrative costs can be reduced by between £400 - £1000 per year for the average club.

Schools wishing to enter the BBC Sport Kwik Cricket Tournament 2003 should contact their local Cricket Development Officer. Details of the CDOs can be found here or by calling the ECB Development information line on 0800 214 314. The competition is run jointly by the ECB and the English Schools Cricket Association.