Manchester Originals star Beth Mooney hopes cricket can become “a sport for all” with the help of a scheme to create more community pitches.
The Everyone In campaign aims to make cricket more accessible by installing more than 100 new pitches to encourage families to be active and live a healthy lifestyle.
With this year’s Hundred about to get underway, Official Team Partner KP Snacks teamed up with originals players Mooney, Lauren Filer, and Ellie Threlkeld to stage a masterclass for local families in Manchester, where a non-turf pitch was installed last year.
And star batter Mooney was keen to show the sport can be played by anyone – regardless of age or gender – if they’re willing to get stuck in and give it a go.
“Accessibility in cricket is tough,” said Mooney, speaking at an event hosted at Cheetham Hill, one of the non-turf pitches installed in 2023 as part of the KP Snacks Everyone In Pitch Initiative.
“To be able to come down here and see so many kids having a good time and wanting to play, hopefully means that they’ll sign up to start playing regularly.
“That’s something we’re passionate about in the cricket community, making sure it’s an inclusive sport.
“We don’t want to be including different demographics or personalities just because of their access to facilities. We want cricket to be a sport for all, so I think the Everyone In campaign is great.”
Mooney herself started playing cricket from as young as seven while living with her family in Australia, after she was invited to fill-in for her brother’s cricket team Kilala Lakes in Victoria.
The Manchester Originals star knows the importance of making cricket accessible, having had to play for Hervey Bay’s boys’ team until she was 18 years old due to a lack of girls’ teams in her rural homeland.
“I think making sure young people and families have access to facilities where they can play cricket and meet other people is a huge thing,” said the 30-year-old, speaking at an event supporting KP Snacks, who in partnership with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have committed to installing and refurbishing 100 new non-turf cricket pitches over the next three years focusing on cities and urban areas where facilities might not exist or need refurbishing over three years.
“We must be offering opportunities as much as possible to every demographic out there.
“I certainly think cricket has come a long way since I started playing in that respect. To have an initiative like Everyone In means anyone can play at any time and in any weather without the pitches getting affected.
“Cricket is a tough sport because of all the equipment we use and the fact it’s outdoors, so it’s been great to see so many kids outside and just having a good time being active.
“I’ve been really enthused by the energy of everyone taking part in the KP Snacks event. What a great opportunity for kids to have an afternoon where they can play cricket and meet some other kids who are like-minded to them.”
It was the social side of cricket, being able to travel and meet new people, that Mooney loved about the sport as a child, and she hopes initiatives like Everyone In will allow others to experience the same joys.
“Cricket is a lot of fun, you meet lots of cool people and it’s a great sport to travel around and get to see different parts of the country,” added Mooney, who made her Australia debut in 2017.
“For me, I’ve met a lot of my good friends through the sport.
“The number one thing is that playing cricket keeps you active and healthy. It’s all about just having fun and throwing yourself into it so that’s what’s great about the Everyone In project.”
KP Snacks are hosting a Cricket coaching masterclass with local football supporting families in Manchester introducing new audiences to the joys of a different sport. If forms part of KP Snack’s Everyone In Campaign which aims to inspire and enable families and communities to get active through cricket.
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