Ivy, a 10-year-old girl, may not know a famous cricketer’s name, but she enjoys playing the game. Despite not being good at bowling, she loves batting. This is similar to a famous cricketer she guessed might be named Williams, who also prefers batting over bowling.
Erin Berry, the development manager of the Northern Districts Cricket Association BOP, was thrilled to see Ivy and her friends from Greenpark Primary School, Charlotte Jump and Ariana A’Court, at the girls’ cricket SuperSmash promotion at Bay Oval. The event aimed to attract the next generation of women cricketers and fans, and create excitement around the game.
The festival had thirteen teams, each with eight players. Everyone got a chance to bowl and bat in a fast-paced, inclusive environment. Darren Leef, a sports teacher at Greenpark, said that the event was more about having fun with friends than winning.
Many of the over 100 girls from primary schools around the city were playing cricket for the first time. They played on the same ground as the Black Caps, New Zealand’s national team, which Ivy thought was cool.
The festival also encouraged the girls to dress up in fun outfits. Greenpark Primary had three teams at the SuperSmash, and there was so much interest they could have had a fourth team. Erin hopes that the event will inspire some of the girls to continue playing cricket.
Next up is the ‘Skills on the Oval’ event on Thursday, December 14, where young cricket fans can play skill games, meet Northern Brave players, and further develop their passion for the game. Then, on Thursday, December 21, there’s a Super Smash Holiday Festival Day for anyone in Years 3-8. The day will be filled with short, fast-paced team games and costs $15, which includes a free Northern Brave t-shirt. To register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SchoolsOutCricket2023.
