The campaign, now in its second year and run in partnership with The Cricketer magazine, celebrated 11 grassroots cricket heroes at Lord’s last June during the England v Ireland Men’s Test match, hosting them in the prestigious President’s Suite.
Last year’s honorees included Lachlan Smith, founder of Birmingham Unicorns, one of the world’s only LGBTQ+ cricket clubs; Taj Butt, a Bradford groundsman who boosted girls’ cricket participation and supported young people’s education through cricket; and Sheena Recaldin, who saved her local village cricket club in Kent post-Covid.
James Worstead, another 2023 winner from Sussex who developed a cricket club for refugees in Northern France, shared his experience: “It was my first ever trip to Lord’s, a place I never thought I would visit. To have come for the first time in those circumstances made it all the more surreal and it was an absolute privilege.”
This year, another XI MCC Community Cricket Heroes will be selected by a panel comprising Arfan Akram, Mike Gatting, Dr. Sarah Fane, and last year’s winner, Lachlan Smith. The panel will be chaired by former England international and MCC Chair of Cricket, Claire Taylor.
The panel seeks individuals who significantly impact their communities through grassroots cricket, including dedicated volunteers, inspiring coaches, and players who have overcome adversity. Winners will be invited to Lord’s to watch a day’s play from the President’s Suite at either the England v Sri Lanka men’s Test Match on Thursday, August 29, or the England v Australia men’s One-Day International on Friday, September 27.
This year’s campaign features several cricketing celebrities in the launch video, encouraging nominations for community cricket heroes. Nominations close at midday on Tuesday, July 16, with winners announced shortly after.
MCC President Mark Nicholas stated, “Grassroots and community cricket is the lifeblood of our game, and supporting and celebrating it is a vital part of MCC’s role. As MCC President, I’m excited to be part of this year’s campaign and look forward to hearing stories of those making significant contributions to their local cricket communities.”
Claire Taylor, Chair of the MCC Cricket Committee, added, “Last year’s inaugural campaign received a phenomenal response, highlighting the strength of our grassroots game and the importance of recognizing those who contribute immensely out of their love for the sport, often under challenging circumstances.”
Huw Turbervill, Editor of The Cricketer, expressed his delight in being involved, noting, “We’ve had wonderful winners, from those taking cricket to far-flung places to those using the game to give people hope and a second chance. I’m sure we will find a fantastic XI to be proud of this year.”
