Unprecedented rises in registrations ahead of 2015/16 season

Cricket Clubs around Auckland are seeing unprecedented rises in registrations ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Aucklanders young and old are taking to cricket across the city in strong numbers. As summer draws closer it has become clearer and clearer how many people want to play cricket. Some clubs are experiencing a 20 to 30 percent rise in registrations – significantly at the junior level.

The BLACKCAPS history making performance at this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup has clearly done wonders for the game’s profile but initiatives from New Zealand Cricket have also helped attract people and make the game more accessible to all ages and abilities.

Auckland Cricket Community Cricket Manager Adrian Dale believes the registrations are the result of a lot of hard work by a wide range of groups.

“The success of the BLACKCAPS has been a huge boost but we have also been working very hard over the past few years with clubs, schools, councils, community boards and trusts to create competitions and events that people want to be a part of and are proud of.”

“We believe we are in a strong position to support this growing interest in playing cricket,” Dale added.

The ongoing investment by Auckland Council and the local boards in sports fields is something that Auckland Cricket, on behalf of its 30,000 plus membership would like to acknowledge. With the growth evidenced already these past few weeks, cricket eagerly anticipates a bumper ‘summer of cricket’.

Eden Roskill District Cricket Club Manager Hament Kasanji says his club has received a big wave of new registrations.

“Since registrations opened in late August the response at all levels has been excellent. It’s great to see the local community excited about cricket with new players and returning members driving the increase in registration numbers. As a club we hope all our members become life-long participants.”

Grafton United Cricket Club Manager Adrian Smith says one of the most pleasing things has been how eager people are to get involved.

“We usually have a fairly slow start to registrations but this season has been different. People have been very keen to sign up to play and get their registrations in early. We have seen a 20 percent rise in registrations.”

North Shore Cricket Club Manager Bruce Warner says his club has experienced a similar level of eagerness to the central city clubs.

“It has been really great to see how excited people are at all levels, not just kids who are keen to pick up the game or further what they are doing at school but also from adults who are coming back to play after stepping away.”

It is by no means too late to register to play cricket this season. All of Auckland’s clubs are eagerly accepting new and enthusiastic members.

New Zealand Cricket also have an exciting new initiative encouraging people to get involved in cricket starting this week.

NZC is launching for the first time ever the Superstar Cricket Road Show which will be touring the country and offering people the chance to meet BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS and test out their cricket skills. Auckland is lucky enough to host the first stop on Saturday the 26th of September. The event is being held from 10am to 2pm at the ASB Showgrounds and is FREE for all ages.

NZC chief executive David White said the roadshow would showcase new junior and youth playing programmes designed to make cricket more accessible for today's youngsters.

"It's great to hear of the upsurge in registrations in Auckland," he said. "That's something we're hoping will be mirrored throughout the country over the next few weeks, and especially as we get out and about promoting our new playing programmes."

People looking for their nearest club can find it at aucklandcricket.co.nz

ENDS

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