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New Zealand's cricketers take the game to the community
Over 100 primary schoolchildren from South Auckland and Porirua will be captained by their New Zealand cricketing heroes this week, through a new community programme.
Organised by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and supported by law firm Bell Gully, the "Hooked on Cricket" programme provides coaching clinics in low-decile primary schools in Auckland and Wellington.
The highlight of the programme is a six-a-side tournament in each city. A New Zealand international or first-class cricket player will captain each primary school team. The tournaments will take place as follows*:
Auckland: Tuesday 15 November, Papatoetoe Cricket Club, Great South Road, Papatoetoe.
Players attending in Auckland include Andre Adams, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Kyle Mills, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey and Daniel Vettori.
Wellington: Wednesday 16 November, Tawa Cricket Club, Linden Park, Gee Street, Tawa.
Players attending in Wellington include: Shane Bond, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram and Jeetan Patel.
The media are welcome to attend both events between 10am and 12.30pm. Senior players and representatives of the NZCPA and Bell Gully will be available for comment.
Bell Gully chairman David Simcock said: "We've worked with the cricket players' association since its inception and share the players' desire to give something back to the communities around us.
"We're proud to support the players and Hooked on Cricket. As well as providing a fun day for all involved, the programme also provides positive role models for young children in these communities. And who knows - we may well uncover our next generation of cricketing stars."
NZCPA Executive Manager Heath Mills said "The players, through the NZCPA, have for some time been looking for an opportunity to contribute to a cricket-related community activity so we are delighted to be able to form a partnership with Bell Gully and create the Hooked on Cricket programme."
*In the event of wet weather, the tournaments will be held at indoor venues as follows:
Auckland: Manukau Indoor Action Sports Centre, 577 Great South Road, Manukau
Wellington: Action Indoor Sports, 18 Western Hutt Road, Petone
Notes for editors
NZCPA
Established in 2001, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) is the representative organisation for the country's first class and international cricketers.
ENDS
