Sam Hain: 'I want to inspire young fans to play cricket in the same way I was'

It’s fantastic that the Vitality Blast season is in full flow.

It’s something we always look forward to players and Edgbaston was rocking with 11,000 in for Family Fun Day at the game against Lightning on Monday. One of the things I love most about the Blast is the connection that it builds us with younger fans.

As professional cricketers, we are so lucky to do what we do for a living. It is a privilege and with that privilege comes a responsibility to spread the word about what a wonderful game cricket is in all its forms.

I love red-ball cricket but the white-ball comps, and especially the Vitality Blast and The Hundred, attract a lot of younger fans and, for me, interacting with them is one of the joys of what I’m lucky enough to do for a living.

Even in games when things haven’t gone so well for the Bears, when you go down on the field at the end and see the smiles on youngsters’ faces it makes you feel better.

I've seen a few boys and girls wearing ‘Hain’ shirts and it does make you realise that what you're doing is having a little bit of an impact on the next generation. That's kinda cool because when I played club and age-group cricket, I sometimes I got glimpses of the pros and that really hit home to me that's what I want to do.

I remember the Australia team came to train at my school, The Southport School (I still remember I had my V800 Slazenger bat that I got for Christmas!).

I got autographs from Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke and being so close to these guys was awesome. I was about 10 or 11 and thought this is the best thing ever. For some reason I thought because I've got their autograph I'm gonna get runs - they've put their good juju on the bat!

It's one of my earliest cricketing memories. Now it’s amazing to think I could so something similar and maybe inspire someone - and it’s a real honour. If it's just one autograph or one photograph, it's all part of the bigger picture of getting youngsters not only watching the Bears but picking up a ball and bat and start playing cricket themselves.

It was fantastic to see so many youngsters at Edgbaston on Monday and 1,500 kids there watching the Central Sparks game last week.

It will be a brilliant atmosphere for the double-header on Saturday when Sparks play Southern Vipers (2.30pm) then the Bears play Notts Outlaws (6.30pm).

Hopefully it will be the kick-start for some of them to say, ‘I want to try that' and who knows where that might lead? They might play for England. They will definitely get outside and be active and maybe join a club.

Women’s cricket is getting bigger and better each year which is brilliant. In those 1,500 last week might be one little girl who decides, ‘that's what I want to do’ – and one day she’ll be a professional cricketer.

The bond between players and spectators in cricket is special in all formats. I remember when we won the County Championship in 2021 taking the trophy over to the fans and sharing it with them because they are as much a part of the journey as the us on the field. It was a great ride that year and they shared it with us every step of the way.

The Bears are doing loads to attract youngsters, including the Six4Schools scheme which gives discounted tickets for schools in the county. Family Fun Day was great as the boys and girls cheered us on to a big win over previously unbeaten Lightning and the double-header will be fantastic fun on Saturday.

Professional cricket is a great world to be part of and it's brilliant that so many young people want to be part of it.