Clear out your old cricket equipment and help grow the game

The International Cricket Council’s East Asia–Pacific (EAP) regional office and Cricket Australia, in conjunction with the Melbourne Cricket Club, the Lord’s Taverners and Cricket Victoria, are calling on all cricketers attending the upcoming first Test between Australia and India on 26 December to bring any old equipment along with them and take part in the ICC’s used cricket equipment drive.

Victorian Bushrangers players Andrew McDonald and Adam Crosthwaite generously kicked off this year’s drive by bringing along some of their old equipment to training in the lead-up to the Bushrangers’ tour match against India.

“Most cricketers have a stash of old equipment that is still very useful to some people that can be found at the bottom of bags or in back sheds somewhere,” said McDonald.

“So I’d urge everyone to bring it along and drop it off at the Test. ICC East-Asia Pacific plays a crucial role for cricket working to expand the game into new areas, and it’s great that Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia are throwing their support behind this initiative,” he said.

A collection bin will be located on the grassed area adjacent to the stairs leading up to Gate 6 on days one, two and three of the Test from 0900 to 1200. The collection area will be clearly identified with a marquee and signage.

The equipment drive has been held at the last three Melbourne Tests and during this time more than 1,000 items have been donated (including old bats, balls, pads and gloves). These items have since been distributed to budding cricketers in places such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Philippines, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands.

This has assisted in the work of ICC EAP in its efforts to grow cricket participation in the region (from 15,000 players in 2002 to 35,000 in 2007). However, the challenge this brings is that more and more equipment is needed to meet the increase in demand.

So start searching at home. Check those unused cricket bags, dusty sheds, cupboards under stairs, or do your local cricket club a favour and clear out all the old equipment it doesn’t use any more, to create more storage room. We will accept anything that will help another person develop his or her skills, and ultimately grow the game of cricket.