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Her Game Too Cricket are delighted to announce that the campaign has partnered with T20 Cricket Community.
Founded in 2007, T20 Cricket Community was established to help support the development of state school cricket by Managing Director, Darren Talbot.
Having been “inspired, or more accurately horrified by the paucity of cricket at a Chance to Shine school session” he was managing for the Surrey Cricket Foundation in Guildford, Darren left his city to job pursue a new career with a “focus on giving state school children more opportunities to play more and better cricket.”
For the first 10 years, T20 Cricket Community and Darren focussed on cricket within schools. In 2017, they switched gears and began establishing hubs across Surrey.
When 2020 rolled around, Darren was able to develop his work further after being approached by the MCC Foundation and began overseeing the management of their Guildford Hub for state school cricketers. For three consecutive years, Darren took the Guildford Girls' team to the National Final at Lord's - being crowned champions in 2023 and 2024.
In 2021, following the success the MCC Foundation programmes, the Girls’ Academies were formed. These academies are now delivered across three school venues in Surrey.
Through their combined efforts, T20 Cricket Community and the MCC Foundation see “over 100 girls taking part in weekly coaching plus indoor and outdoor matches.” As a whole, nearly 300 boys and girls, 85% of whom attend state schools, attend these academies.
Even with hundreds of attendees, “individual player focus remains at the heart of everything that T20 Community Cricket do”. Meeting regularly under their day-to-day stewardship, the experienced coaching team work with “a view to supporting each and every one with their ongoing development.”
Alongside his work on a player level, Darren utilises his experiences and expertise to support the development of cricket clubs. In return for access to their pitches in the summer for the academy players, this support is offered to clubs for free.
Some of the initiatives introduced at the Girls’ Academies include:
Understanding the impact of female anatomical / biomechanical differences on cricket techniques
Understanding the preferred learning styles of female cricketers with music played at coaching sessions
Supporting the development of female coaches
Recognising the kit preference for girls
Sharing information with parents (and players) regarding the impact of menstrual cycle on performance.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, they are introducing a Women & Girls team who will take part in the Surrey Downs League Development Division, a Saturday “Men’s” league.
As T20 Cricket Community continue their efforts in furthering the developing of the Women’s game and engaging with girls across Surrey, Her Game Too Cricket are thrilled to be joining forces.
On the partnership, Darren Talbot said: "As soon as we started our involvement in girls’ cricket through the MCC Foundation, we realised how much untapped potential there was in the women & girls’ game and how many barriers still needed to be pulled down.
Providing our support to the excellent Her Game Too initiative was an obvious next step.”
Head of Her Game Too Cricket, Paige Caunce, said: “After hearing about the fantastic work Darren has done, both with T20 Cricket Community and the MCC Foundation hubs, we were incredibly eager to bring them board as partners.
The appetite to play cricket among women and girls continues to grow each year, and it is important that opportunities to play – such as those provided by T20 Cricket Community – are available and accessible, no matter what your background.
Her Game Too are excited to work with Darren and the team at T20 Cricket Community, continuing to spread the message that cricket is a game for all. On behalf of our team, I would like to express our gratitude for their support.”
You can learn more about T20 Community Cricket by visiting their website: www.twenty20communitycricket.com
@t20cricketco