Some great news this week from four Kent Young Cricketers graduates!

Joe Denly
who is opening the batting for
England Lions against the full
Australian Test team at Worcester

Sam Northeast
who is opening for
the Kent First XI at Beckenham
against leaders Gloucestershire

Charlie Hemphrey
is one of the stars
in the current Second XI match
vs Middlesex. The talented young
off-spinner took 11 wickets
on day two.

Alex Blake
made 149 in the same match,
a massive part of Kent’s 400.
He then followed it up
with three for 100!

Congratulations to each and every one of them!

Because of high demand, Kent Cricket Board have arranged for additional essential courses to be run during the Summer months.

The first is a “Safeguarding and Protecting Children” course, at Leigh Technology Academy on Monday 20th July, at 6:30pm.

The second is a First Aid course, at Addington Cricket Club on Wednesday 12th August, also at 6:30pm.

If you’re interested simply click the link(s) above for an application form.

Both courses are essential for existing coaches and Club Welfare Officers who need to keep their accreditation current and up-to-date.   All certificates from these courses expire after three years so if yours does, or is likely too in the near future, you really should consider attending these courses.

Any questions you have can be directed to Heidi Coleman at Kent Cricket Board

England women’s recent 20-20 World Cup triumph is already having an effect on the young girl cricketers of Kent as over eighty enthusiastic under 11 year olds turned out for their clubs in the eastern leg of the 2009 county festival series.

Hosted by St Lawrence and Highland Court girls from eight clubs played some excellent incrediball pairs cricket.

There were no medals, trophies or certificates at stake for the girls – just playing games of cricket. Some girls had only started playing three weeks ago and it was encouraging to see clubs with new girls sections taking part, including Margate and Upchurch. History was being made by Whitstable CC because it was the first time since the club was formed 150 years ago that they had put out a girls cricket team!

All eight teams each played five matches and although St Lawrence and Highland Court Girls beat Bexley Girls in the final, and Bells Yew Green defeated Whitstable in the Plate final, the real winner in the end was Kent women’s and girls cricket.

The next Under 11 Girls club Festival takes place on Sunday 19th July at the Leathersellers Ground in Greenwich.

The final Under 11 Girls club Festival will be hosted by Castle Hill CC on Saturday 19th September.

Results for 28th June

Winners : St Lawrence and Highland Court
Runners Up : Bexley Girls
3rd : Colfeian Girls
4th : Castle Hill

Plate Winners : Bells Yew Green
Plate Runners up : Whitstable CC
Plate 3rd : Upchurch
Plate 4th : Margate

Here’s the flyer with all the details.

News of some early autumn courses for Primary school players has been posted on the Maidstone District page of this website. All the details are there and available for download.

There are two 6-week courses at Maplesden Noakes with a taster exclusively for girls.  If you’re interested follow the link and download the flyers.

This is a list of all the Lord’s Taverner’s Equipment that has been sent to Clubs and Schools in Kent recently:

24th June 2009 - Awards made in April 2009:
YOUTH CRICKET BAGS (KOOKABURRA)
The Leigh Technology Academy

COLTS U13 CRICKET BAGS (GUNN & MOORE
Medway Girls Cricket Academy
Hawkinge CC
Rowhill School for Behaviour & Learning

JUNIOR U11 CRICKET BAGS (GRAY NICOLLS)
Kemsing CC

KWIK CRICKET BAGS (READERS)
Saltwood CE Primary School
Royal London Society for the Blind’s Dorton College of FE

GIRLS (15-18) BAG (KOOKABURRA)
Rainham CC

20th April 2009 - Awards made in March 2009:
YOUTH CRICKET BAGS - KOOKABURA
Sandwich Technology School

KWIK CRICKET BAGS - READERS
Egerton Primary School

31st March 2009 - Awards in February 2009:
COLTS UNDER 13 CRICKET BAGS - DUNCAN FEARNLEY
Chatham House Grammar School

KWIK CRICKET BAGS - READERS
St Ethelbert’s Catholic Primary School

YOUTH CRICKET BAGS - KOOKABURA
St Ethelbert’s Catholic Primary School

3rd February 2009 - Awards in November and December 2008:
COLTS UNDER 13 CRICKET BAGS - DUNCAN FEARNLEY
Laleham Gap Secondary School, Margate
The Canterbury High School, Canterbury
Ursuline College, Westgate on Sea
Hartsdown Technology College, Margate

JUNIOR UNDER 11 CRICKET BAGS - GRAY NICOLLS
Frindsbury Cricket Club, Frinsbury

KWIK CRICKET BAGS - READERS
Carlinge Primary & Nursery School, Margate
Holy Trinity & St John’s Primary School, Margate
St Gregory’s RCP, Margate
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Northfleet
Delce Junior School, Rochester
Stone St Mary’s CE Primary School, Greenhithe
The Pilgrim School, Rochester
Balfour Junior School, Chatham
Cliftonville Primary School, Margate
Tunbridge Wells CC, Tunbridge Wells
Laleham Gap Primary School, Broadstairs
Salmestone Primary School, Margate
Palm Bay Primary School, Margate

YOUTH CRICKET BAGS - KOOKABURA
Greenacre School, Chatham
Castle Community College, Deal

GIRL’S BAG - KOOKABURA
Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, Gravesend

15th December 2008
COLTS UNDER 13 CRICKET BAGS - DUNCAN FEARNLEY
Aylesford School Sports College, Aylesford
St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesend

JUNIOR UNDER 11 CRICKET BAGS - GRAY NICOLLS
Street End CC, Canterbury

KWIK CRICKET BAGS - READERS
Archers Court Youth Club, Canterbury
Priory Infant School, Ramsgate
Craylands School, Swanscombe
Sedleys CEP School, Southfleet
The Manor Community Primary School, Swanscombe
Fleetdown Junior School, Dartford
Riverview Infant School, Gravesend
Ifield School, Gravesend
The Gateway Primary School, Dartford
Blean School, Canterbury
Fawkham CEP School, Fawkham, Longfield
Wickhambreaux CEP School, Wickhambreaux
Culverstone Green Primary School, Culverstone, Meopham

24th October 2008
KWIK CRICKET BAGS  - Westgate Primary School and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School
GIRLS 15 to 18 KOOKABURRA BAG - Margate CC and The Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington

18th August 2008
YOUTH CRICKET BAGS (KOOKABURRA) - Higham & Mockbegger CC and Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
COLTS U13 CRICKET BAGS (FEARNLEY) - Betteshanger CWCC and Sherwood CC
KWIK CRICKET BAGS (READERS) - Monkton CEP School

25th June 2008
YOUTH CRICKET BAGS (KOOKABURRA) - Kemsing CC
COLTS U13 CRICKET BAGS (FEARNLEY) - Maplesden Noakes School
KWIK CRICKET BAGS (READERS) - St Francis Catholic Primary School and Kennington CC
GIRLS (15-18) BAG (KOOKABURRA) - St Lawrence & Highland Court CC

5th June 2008
YOUTH CRICKET BAGS (KOOKABURRA) - Sheppey CC
COLTS U13 CRICKET BAGS (FEARNLEY) - Cudham Wyse CC
KWIK CRICKET BAGS (READERS) - Monson Primary School

21st April 2008
Colts Under 13 Cricket bags (Fearnley) - The Abbey School, Faversham and Crofton School, Catford
Junior Under 11 Cricket bags (Gray Nicolls) - Hollingbourne CC
Kwik Cricket Bags (Readers) - Nonington CEP School and Blue Bell Hill CC, Walderslade

Great news for all beneficiaries – for details of how to access this scheme go the fundraising page.

There’s a lot of information on this site about Lord’s Taverners Equipment bags so why not see what they might be able to do for your Club.

If you’re still not sure about the scheme, contact your Community Cricket Manager at KCB.  If your Club is in the middle and east of the County you should email Clair Gould whilst for clubs in the west and in the Metropolitan area your contact is Andy Griffiths.

England Women woke up this morning as double world champions with their nearest rivals concerned they could dominate women’s cricket for years to come.

Having beaten New Zealand at Sydney in March to claim the 50-overs World Cup, England repeated that result with a six-wicket triumph over them at Lord’s yesterday to lift the ICC World Twenty20 trophy.

Kent and England Captain Charlotte Edwards lifts the ICC Women’s World T20 TrophyIt is a stunning double success for England, but a worrying trend for the other women’s international sides as they attempt to stop England becoming the dominant force.

“I think the infrastructure they have now and the amount of money the ECB has put into them has put them leaps and bounds ahead of the top three of India, ourselves and the Aussies,” admitted disappointed New Zealand captain Aimee Watkins.

“They have got a good structure in place and they can only get stronger and stronger and we’re hoping we’ll head that same way and the gap will be closed.”

The ECB have ploughed money into the women’s game since 2005 and last year awarded eight coaching contracts to some of the leading players in association with the ‘Chance to shine’ programme.

That has allowed the women to concentrate on their cricket without also having to find part-time work and the rewards have been immediate with England winning the Ashes home and away and claiming two World Cups.

“It makes a huge difference,” admitted Claire Taylor, who was named as player of the tournament.

“Trying to juggle a full-time job and trying to train to play for England to be the best you can be is really hard.

“For the ECB and for ‘Chance to shine’ to step forward and to say we’re going to give you girls the opportunity to be a professional cricketer for half the time and the other half of the time you’re going to be role models in schools and in clubs was great.”

Lane lauds England’s finest fielding

England women’s head coach Mark Lane believes his charges produced their best bowling and fielding performance under his tutelage in yesterday’s ICC World Twenty20 final.

The hosts crushed New Zealand by six wickets at Lord’s, skittling the White Ferns for 85 and passing their total with three overs to spare.

Right-arm swing bowler Katherine Brunt starred with 3-6 from four overs but there were two wickets apiece for fellow seamers Nicky Shaw and Jenny Gunn.

Wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor was also influential with two catches and a first-over stumping from off-spinner Laura Marsh, whom captain Charlotte Edwards entrusted with the new ball.

“I thought our bowling as a unit and fielding was stunning,” Lane told ECBtv.

“Laura Marsh has bowled superbly well throughout this tournament and to give her the new ball on such a big occasion, Sarah Taylor took a brilliant stumping. It kind of got the momentum going.

“Katherine Brunt bowled with fire in her belly and couple of stunning catches from behind the wicket. As a team performance and as a bowling unit we talk about hunting in packs and stuff like that and they certainly did that.”

Lane, who was appointed coach in April last year, added: “But not just Katherine today, everyone, Holly Colvin bowled very, very well. Jenny Gunn bowled well when required and, like I say, as a unit it was fantastic.”

The 41-year-old, who became a father for the first time a fortnight ago, was emphatic England’s athletic display in the field left their opponents with no room for manouvre.

Kent and England’s Lydia Greenway catches NZ’s Sarah McGlashanHe picked out star fielder Lydia Greenway, who took a fine catch at long-off to dismiss Sara McGlashen, for special praise.

“I don’t think they were appalling at all. I think we bowled exceptionally well. I would probably say that’s our best bowling and fielding performance.

“We pride ourselves on our fielding and today they were stunning. Some of the stops that Lydia Greenway pulled off today, some brilliant catches, and we were just calm and we felt that it was almost surreal that it was happening around us.

“We never let them get going today. I thought we bowled straighter at them and put a bit of pressure on them straight away.”

The above is a combination of two articles currently on the ECB website

We are absolutely delighted to be able to bring you some photographs featuring Kent’s England Women, Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway from the World Twenty20 semi-final at the Oval on Friday 19th June.

The match is already becoming part of the history of the Twenty20 game, be it men’s or women’s, for the incredible run chase England completed in their innings, beating Australia by 3 runs.

Comfortably the match of this whole ICC event, men and women.

Photographs are © Bipin Patel and clockwise from left to right is Charlotte Edwards, Kent and England Captain in full flow;  Lydia Greenway and Charlotte congratulating each other and finally both of them on their lap of honour!

We are very grateful to Bipin for allowing us to use them.

OE Bears is the Cricket club for disabled children aged 11 - 19.  They have just received a grant from Play Sport London of £1,500 to further their activities.

The Club meets every Wednesday throughout the summer at Old Elthamians Cricket Club Foxbury Avenue, Perry Street, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HA.

If you are interested in joining the Club, you can contact Frances Driscoll at Marjorie McClure on 07751 133 190 for more information or you can email her directly or there’s a poster for download which has all the details you need.

Because of increasing demand, Kent Cricket Board have added an additional ‘Time to Listen Course’ for new Club Welfare Officers and for existing CWOs who need to take a refresher course to keep their accreditation current.

Please remember that all Clubs should have a Club Welfare Officer and that accreditation expires after 3 years.

The venue is Addington Cricket Club on Thursday 24th September at 6:30pm. The cost is £25 per person.

An application form is attached which should be completed and returned, with a cheque, to Kent Cricket Board, St Lawrence Ground, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NZ

If you need further details email Heidi Coleman at KCB