Few great cricket stories begin on a cold, dark afternoon in February but it was on such a day that Jess Ward first visited the Unity Hubb in Ward End, Birmingham - and sowed seeds that were to grow far.
In her role of Women and Girls Community Manager for Warwickshire Cricket Foundation, Jess, along with Poppy Davies (Women and Girls Community Coach) turned up for a Cook Together, Eat Together session at the Hubb, in St Margaret’s Church, just a hefty six-hit from the city centre.
Her audience was not cricket fans. At least they weren’t at the start.
They were a group of ethnically diverse women, aged in their thirties to seventies, who had lived most of their lives within three miles of a major cricket venue, Edgbaston Stadium, but never been there. Cricket simply had not figured in their lives.
They listened to Jess and Poppy. And they enjoyed it. And were engaged.
Three months later, when England Women played Pakistan at Edgbaston, women and girls from the Unity Hubb formed the guard of honour as the teams entered the field. Among the crowd were 50 of their friends, none of whom had been to the stadium before. A brilliant day was had by all.
Cricket is now on firmly the agenda of the women and girls at the Unity Hubb. They have even played in St Margaret’s - albeit with a sponge ball and polite instructions to ‘mind the stained glass windows!’
They play and train in sessions tailored to their ages and abilities. Some of the women are studying for coaching qualifications. The introduction to the Hubb of the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation, which came about through the nearby Dolphin Women’s Centre, has proved a spectacular success.
“We have had the great pleasure of bringing cricket to the heart of the Ward End community, engaging with the Unity Hubb to provide an amazing first experience,” Jess said.
“Taking part in their Cook Together, Eat Together sessions, really showed us the importance of that community/social feel that is the basis of the Hubb. Then as we introduced them to cricket, the groups grew in confidence and improved on their skills, getting more and more competitive as the weeks went on.
“Then to be able to bring together their enthusiasm and newly found passion for cricket with a trip to Edgbaston was fantastic. It was a huge success and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Hubb’s commitment to ensuring that women and girls are physically active continues to grow and we look forward to working with them for the remainder of the year.”
The arrival of cricket has brought an uplifting new dimension to the lives of the women and girls, believes Rashta Butt, Heritage Centre Manager at the Unity Hubb.
“From our very first meeting, it was evident that Jess and Poppy had a passion for spreading their love for cricket and that cricket is for everyone, no matter who you are or where you’re from,” said Rashta. “The coaches have planted seeds that may not otherwise have been planted.
“Not only were the women and girls having fun, feeling good and spending time with friends, they were also learning that they were now part of the world of cricket. Our ladies have so many fond memories of the experiences made possible by WCF.
“However, the day that had the most impact was the day they spent at Edgbaston. Many of our ladies had never been to any sporting event so it was amazing for a coachload to go together to be in the ground watching cricket."
Kaniz Dotta, Community Development Practitioner at St Margaret’s Community Trust, added: “Our group is a diverse group, predominantly Pakistani, so the opportunity to watch cricket between two teams that are so close to their hearts was second to none.
“They paraded around with their England and Pakistani flags, heads held high and feeling right at home - and this was due to the beautiful relationship that Jess and Poppy had built over the weeks and months before.”
This story of cricket's introduction to the Unity Hubb resonates with the mission of the ECB’s Taste of Cricket initiative, which is dedicated to demonstrating the much-loved, and inescapable bond between cricket and food. Just as the "Cook Together, Eat Together" sessions at the Hubb became the gateway for these women to explore cricket, Taste of Cricket also uses the shared experience of preparing and enjoying food to foster connections and introduce the sport to new audiences. You can find more on the campaign at www.ecb.co.uk/about/edi/raising-the-game and stay tuned for the Taste of Cricket Cookbook launching in October.