Kibworth CC Juniors Meet Their Heroes At Edgbaston

Kibworth CC Juniors Meet Their Heroes At Edgbaston

The Kibworth players with Andrew Strauss (centre)

Kibworth CC Juniors Meet Their Heroes At Edgbaston

the team also got to meet former England wicket-keeper Paul Nixon

On Tuesday 3 July, junior grassroots cricket team Kibworth Cricket Club enjoyed an unforgettable day as they met the England cricket team, after competing with 40 cricket teams across the country to win the dream prize in the AEG grassroots competition.

Kibworth Cricket Club travelled to Edgbaston Cricket Ground where they had an introduction to the world of top-class cricket with coaching tips and stories from Paul Nixon. They then had the chance to meet the players and watch them train with commentary from the cricket legend.

Surprises for Kibworth Cricket Club included England rugby legends Will Greenwood and Austin Healey, both ex-Leicester Tigers players, accompanying them and a unique opportunity for a Q&A session with England Captain Andrew Strauss.

The Under 11s team met players Graham Gooch, Eoin Morgan, Alastair Cook, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow and Samit Patel, all of whom signed shirts, bats and autograph books, before watching Ian Bell and Craig Kieswetter bat.

The club won the prize of a lifetime in the grassroots cricket campaign launched by premium home appliance brand AEG. They asked for the support of their local community, friends and family to successfully build up enough votes at www.aeg.co.uk/grassroots and have been crowned the 2012 winning team.

Earlier this year Kibworth CC, along with 39 other grassroots cricket teams, won AEG’s Kit & Laundry Package, which includes 12 bespoke Canterbury Cricket Kits and a top-of-the-range AEG washing machine in time for the start of the 2012 cricket season, and all teams have campaigned for votes to win the opportunity to meet the England cricket team.

Audio: Coach Duncan Jones talks about the competition and the day out at Edgbaston. 

Click here for a 6-minute chat with Duncan in more depth about the competition, the day and the Under 11s

Duncan Jones, Kibworth Cricket Club’s Under 11s Coach, said: “Meeting Paul Nixon would have been enough for most 11 year-olds but when Will Greenwood and Austin Healey turned up, everyone’s eyes were like saucers. I can't begin to say how much the Dads enjoyed today so how the boys will contain themselves over the next few weeks is beyond me!

“In the Q&A session with Andrew Strauss the boys posed some excellent questions, including asking what he thought about as the bowler was running in to bowl, to which he explained that he is able to remove all thoughts from his mind so that his mind is blank. Paul, Austin and Will all advised the boys to always remember the basics no what standard they are playing at.

“We really can't thank AEG and Super Skills Holidays enough for giving us this opportunity; the boys were in their element and had an absolutely amazing day.”

The prize has been organised by Super Skills Travel and is part of AEG’s ongoing commitment to support grassroots sports in the UK, which began by supporting rugby in early 2011 and has now expanded into supporting cricket this year.

By the end of 2012, more than 2,500 kits will have been supplied to grassroots cricket and rugby teams in the UK and Ireland. 150 grassroots teams have been provided with AEG washing machines to keep these kits in pristine condition and ultimate winners have met and trained with their sporting heroes.

To find out more visit www.aeg.co.uk/grassroots where you can also see photos of Kibworth Cricket Club in their bespoke kit or visit www.facebook.com/aeg.