This morning, The Hundred stars Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan and Deandra Dottin attended the unveiling of a mural in Manchester
The mural artwork depicts three players set to star in this year’s The Hundred tournament; England stars Jos Buttler (Manchester Originals) and Chris Jordan (Southern Brave), and Lancashire-born Emma Lamb (Birmingham Pheonix) stand proudly alongside three youngsters representing the local area. Victoria (12), Lacey (10) and Okikioluwa (9) are participants in Chance to Shine’s programmes in Greater Manchester, where they’ve embraced cricket as a fun and inspiring part of their everyday
The mural was put together thanks Compare the Market, the UK’s leading price comparison app and Principal Partner of The Hundred.
Alongside the artwork featuring the iconic meerkats Aleksandr and Sergei, today’s official unveiling event saw Jos Buttler and Chris Jordan join Manchester Originals all-rounder Deandra Dottin to take part in an urban cricket session facilitated by Chance to Shine. In a rare opportunity to play with the stars, young people from the local area had a chance to play with some of cricket’s biggest names, inspiring their budding cricket careers with tips and tricks passed down by the legends.
Inspiring young people through cricket, Chance to Shine gives them the opportunity to play, learn and develop while supporting their personal growth and life skills. As beneficiaries of the work Chance to Shine provides to the communities it supports, the young people featured in the mural have felt the positive impact of playing.
Aspiring player Lacey, who now loves the sport and is joined by her peers in the initiative, shared that “it doesn’t matter if you don’t always hit and you’re out, as long as your team is cheering you on it’s ok”. While for 12-year-old Victoria, not only has she become a keen player but having the opportunity to connect with young people in the community has boosted her confidence; speaking about the experience she said “socialising with new people has been really good – it’s just fun to play with other kids from the area!”
Jos Buttler said: “Seeing the mural and meeting young people from the Chance to Shine programme is a reminder of what cricket is all about – playing as a community and having fun. The Hundred is a great place for families to come together and enjoy the sport, and I’m proud to shine a spotlight on initiatives that get young people interested in cricket”
Kate Stephens, CEO at Chance to Shine, commented: “It was fantastic to be part of the mural launch and to see Victoria, Lacey and Okikioluwa celebrated for their passion for cricket. Over the past 20 years, we’ve helped more than 7 million children pick up and bat and ball and their stories are proof that, with the right opportunities, the game really can belong to everyone.”
The Hundred tournament starts tonight when London Spirit play Oval Invincibles at the Oval and draws to a close on Sunday 31st August
