Chance to Shine receives boost

England’s next generation of cricketers were given another financial boost with sports company Slazenger pledging £1.5million to the ‘Chance to Shine’ campaign.

The charity, which began its project to promote cricket in state schools a year ago, has so far raised £9million from private sources and hopes to produce £50million over five years with half coming from Government funding.

From next March the project will be boosted by a new annual National Sports Foundation hand-out of £2.5million.

Slazenger are the second commercial partner to join the ‘Chance to Shine’ campaign and the company will become official suppliers of equipment to the 100 clubs and 450 primary schools in the scheme.

Slazenger’s finance director, Peter Diggles, said: “The decline of cricket in schools has been a real disappointment and we’re extremely proud to help reverse this trend.”

Sports minister, Richard Caborn, said: “Our Ashes win last summer showed to a brand new generation how captivating cricket can be. The Government money will help build on that success.”