Sixteen local schools to cheer on ‘their’ nation
Sixteen schools have adopted a nation for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament in Taunton.
School children from Taunton will watch their heroes in June at one of this year’s most exhilarating sporting tournaments. This international cricket tournament will see 12 world-class matches take place at Taunton, the home of the England women's team from 11 - 16 June 2009.
Students from adopt a nation schools will enjoy the opportunity to get involved in an international sporting event taking place within their own community. The schools have all received access to a web based learning package and may wish to choose to focus on their adopted nation. The learning package details country profiles, flags, player profiles and scorecard activities. At the matches students will provide players with a guard of honour as they walk onto the pitch.
The programme is coordinated by Playing for Success in conjunction with the Somerset County Cricket Club and the ECB.
The England’s women’s team currently holds both The Ashes and the World Cup and thus go into the ICC World Twenty20 with the hope of claiming the third crown. A key feature of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 is that each match in Taunton will include two games showcasing per day four different teams. This double-header format allows spectators to view two games for the price of one match-day ticket, making it great value for families. Tickets for all matches at Taunton are just £6 for adults and £1 for under 16s.
Setting a global sporting precedent, the ICC World Twenty20 will feature the women’s tournament being played alongside the men’s with the semi-finals hosted at Trent Bridge and The Oval, and the final to be held at Lord’s on 21 June.
The event brings together the world’s top players in a tough competition that pits nation against nation. Talent from across the globe will be on display and countries that will be joining England in challenging for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 trophy are Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Playing for Success programme manager, Simon Lowe said: “The aim of adopt a nation project is to leave a long term legacy for women’s and girls cricket. We believe we have provided the schools with a unique focus for learning.
“We are actively encouraging students to engage in a virtual learning environment by providing a stimulating range of appropriate literacy and numeracy resources and of course to come along to their nations matches to cheer them on,” he said.
All schools in Somerset have been offered the opportunity to attend the tournament for free. There has been a terrific take up rate and so far in excess of 4500 children will be attending over the six days.
Archbishop Cranmer and Wellsprings School, the two schools who have adopted the home nation, hosted England captain Charlotte Edwards and opening batter Caroline Atkins last week. The England players were touring Taunton with their World Cup trophy recently won in Australia. Charlotte and Caroline took a skills session with students before answering questions at a school assembly.
Tickets for the ICC World Twenty20 can be purchased at www.icc-cricket.com or by calling 0844 847 2020. School, cricket clubs and Somerset County Cricket Club members get to go for free.
