2024 Community Cricket Heroes:
In its second year, the MCC’s Community Cricket Heroes Campaign, in collaboration with The Cricketer magazine, continues its quest to recognize the unsung champions of grassroots cricket across the UK. Last year, eleven remarkable individuals were honored with a prestigious day at Lord’s during the England v Ireland Men’s Test match, experiencing the game from the esteemed President’s Suite.
Four of the 2023 Community Cricket Heroes in the President’s Suite
Among the 2023 winners were Lachlan Smith, the visionary behind Birmingham Unicorns, a pioneering LGBTQ+ cricket club; Taj Butt, a dedicated groundsman from Bradford fostering girls’ cricket participation while supporting local education initiatives; and Sheena Recaldin, instrumental in reviving a Kent village cricket club post-Covid.
Reflecting on his experience, James Worstead from Sussex, who established a cricket club for refugees in Northern France, expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity, marking his maiden visit to Lord’s as surreal and privileged.
This year, a new cohort of eleven MCC Community Cricket Heroes will be selected by a distinguished panel including Arfan Akram, Mike Gatting, Dr. Sarah Fane, and last year’s recipient, Lachlan Smith, chaired by former England international and MCC Chair of Cricket, Claire Taylor.
The panel seeks nominees making tangible, positive impacts in their communities through grassroots cricket, whether through exceptional volunteerism, inspirational coaching, or resilience in the face of adversity.
Winners will enjoy a day at Lord’s as special guests of the MCC President during either the England v Sri Lanka men’s Test Match or the England v Australia men’s One-Day International.
Prominent figures from cricket endorse this year’s campaign, appearing in the launch video to encourage nominations from cricket communities nationwide. Nominations close on July 16th, with the chosen heroes announced shortly after.
MCC President Mark Nicholas underscores the campaign’s significance in nurturing grassroots cricket, expressing eagerness to celebrate this year’s winners at Lord’s. Claire Taylor emphasizes the campaign’s aim to shine a light on those often overlooked for their invaluable contributions to the game, echoing the sentiment shared by The Cricketer’s Editor, Huw Turbervill.
To nominate your MCC Community Cricket Hero and be a part of celebrating cricket’s unsung champions, visit the link below.
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