England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has launched a new nationwide initiative designed to encourage more young people to start playing cricket.

The Yorkshire star wants cricket to become a children's leisure activity once again and is at the forefront of the Michael Vaughan Cricket (MVC) programme.

As he prepares to jet off to the cricket World Cup in the West Indies, Michael launched MVC with the help of more than 30 local primary school pupils.

The initiative will start with a series of cricket camps in 10 cities across the UK, providing a full week of cricket coaching, fun, games and activities for children aged five and upwards.

Michael Vaughan said: "I'm desperate to see cricket, once again, played for enjoyment and leisure in the parks, gardens and streets of Britain, and I hope this programme will be an essential part of that revival.

"To continue to be a strong cricketing nation in world cricket, its essential that we build a broad base of children not only playing cricket, but excited about it as well. I hope that this new programme will see an influx of young players from all parts of our society go on to make cricket the national sport is should be."

The five day camps are designed to introduce boys and girls from all communities to the game by using age-specific programmes that enable children as young as five to start playing cricket, and more importantly, continue to play cricket afterwards.

Michael Vaughan Cricket is being backed by the King's Foundation, a national children's sports charity whose programmes have already been enjoyed by over half a million children, both in the UK and overseas.

Richard Holmes, Chief Executive of The King's Foundation, said: "We've developed a creative, enjoyable and exciting programme for Michael Vaughan Cricket that were confident will see a new generation of children playing cricket for enjoyment and leisure.

"Children throughout the UK deserve the opportunity to learn and enjoy this great national sport. Were confident that Michael Vaughan Cricket will see more children enjoy the challenge and excitement of cricket in a way theyve never experienced before."

Faye Dale, who plays for Durham County Womens Cricket, said: "Having played and coached children in county cricket, I'm convinced that this programme will have a huge impact on children's cricket in the UK."

MVC will run in the following cities this summer: Birmingham, Bradford, Cheltenham, Harrogate, Leeds, Loughborough, Northampton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Wakefield, and York.

The King's Foundation seeks to develop children through sports both in the UK and in Africa. The charity runs King's Camps, the UKs leading multi-activity sports camps.

Other Top Stories