Join a summer cricket camp

The camps saw over 1000 children taking part last year

Despite the summer's wet weather, the cricket season is very much in full swing.

The Marylebone Cricket Club, commonly known as the MCC, is the body which looks after the laws of the game.

And the Spirit of Cricket Challenge is the MCC's scheme to introduce cricket and the values of the game to a wider audience.

The MCC will host a series of three-day summer camps for children between the ages of 9-12 who are new to the game.

Qualified coaches will be on hand to teach the basics, as well as cricket development officers to pass on information about how to start playing the game in the local area.

Each participant will receive a bag of goodies, including a t-shirt, hat and a cricket game, along with the opportunity to meet a professional cricketer.

The camps cost £15 for three days. To sign up, [e-mail] or call 020 7554 5050 for an application form.

The forms will need to be completed and signed by a parent or guardian.

JULY/AUGUST

NEWCASTLE
30 July-1 Aug: Newcastle Football Centre, Gibside Gardens, Benwell, Newcastle upon tyne, NE15 7PP (7-10-year olds only)

YORKSHIRE

31 July-2 Aug: Kings School, Mill Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4JF

AUGUST

BERKSHIRE

1-3 Aug: Hungerford CC, War Memorial Ground, Bulpit Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0AY

NEWCASTLE

6-8 Aug: Newcastle Football Centre, Gibside Gardens, Benwell, Newcastle upon tyne, NE15 7PP (11-14-year olds only)

WILTSHIRE

7-9 Aug: Warminster CC, The Pavilion, Sambourne Road, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8LF

LANCASHIRE

7-9 Aug: Old Xaverians CC, St Francis Xavier's College, High Lee, Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool, L25 6EG

DEVON

8-10 Aug: Exeter CC, The County Ground, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RP

HEREFORDSHIRE

13-15 Aug: Whitecross Sports College, Three Elms Road, Hereford, HR4 0RN

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

13-15 Aug: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, WD3 6EW

MID-GLAMORGAN

14-16 Aug: Sobells Sports Centre, The Yns, Aberdare, CF44 7RP

KENT

20-22 Aug: Kent County Cricket Ground, Worsley Bridge Road , Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1RU

HAMPSHIRE

22-24 Aug: Grove Park School, The Grove, Southampton, SO19 9LX

NORFOLK

28-30 Aug: Taverham Hall Schooll, Norwich, NR8 6HU