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[Neon Cricket]

I understand where you were coming from mate. I first picked up cricket at the age of 8, through seeing my friends playing it at school, and then my dad eventually got me a Kashmir willow bat from his Indian freind for my 10th birthday. Since my dad knew nothing about cricket then, he got me a bat that was for a 10 year old beginner, and it was a size 5, which was too big for me as I was shorter than most.

My mum also knew nothing about cricket (she thinks $100 is expensive for my current SH bat, even though it cost $200, half of which I paid and saved for myself and the other half got paid for by my dad).

Anyway, she enrolled me for a club, and I remember asking if I needed anything other than a bat. She said no, and I ended up borrowing everything apart from a bat, when I came to my first match. I remember getting out to a half volley on off stump, with my head pointing towards the sky. Next week, I went with my dad and bought all the required gear, even though they said it was expensive

So, my family isn't poor by any means, but since they didn't know much, they weren't as willing to spend money on something that they didn't know about. If it is obvious that a kid is struggling financially, or their parents don't have knowledge of the game and the reason of cost, other parents/coaches of children in that child's team should chip in, and that's why people like you and others should be commended for your hard work and generosity.

I appreciate what you're saying and commend Simon for his offering however surely you can't expect other parents to be chipping in for a childs kit - the sport is expensive enough as it is, it shouldn't be left to one parent to pay for someone else due to being unaware of the costs?

Personally I would welcome a scheme from the ECB/Cricket Australia where every club has a fund for a "Club Kit Bag" - aimed mainly at Juniors cricketers in order for them to be able to use decent kit and progress well. You could proportionate the funding by the number of active juniors in the club, along with the amount of money in the club (easily done by providing basic financial details). Obviously the richer clubs would receive less but that's probably the only fair way of doing it

[tim2000s]

I find the way this topic has gone fascinating.

I started playing cricket in the late 80s and all the clubs I played for (schools, adults) had club kitbags in which there were always enough gloves, pads, boxes and bats to provide for three batsmen. Throughout the time I've been playing, which is nearly thirty years, all of the clubs I've played for have had a kitbag with enough kit to allow for three batsmen to be padded up. Where I've run the club, I've raised funds to buy this kit in some cases. Even my current LMS side has our own kitbag with cast off bats, pads, glvoes, keeping kit that gives us shared kit and means that people don't have to bring their own stuff.

Does this not happen anymore? Is it necessary for everyone to have their own kit now?

[AverageCricketer]

I appreciate what you're saying and commend Simon for his offering however surely you can't expect other parents to be chipping in for a childs kit - the sport is expensive enough as it is, it shouldn't be left to one parent to pay for someone else due to being unaware of the costs?

Personally I would welcome a scheme from the ECB/Cricket Australia where every club has a fund for a "Club Kit Bag" - aimed mainly at Juniors cricketers in order for them to be able to use decent kit and progress well. You could proportionate the funding by the number of active juniors in the club, along with the amount of money in the club (easily done by providing basic financial details). Obviously the richer clubs would receive less but that's probably the only fair way of doing it

That's a good idea, and maybe others can bring their old kit that they don't use anymore/grown out of. I find it hard to believe how wasteful society has become, as some people just throw away kit, rather than selling/giving it away. I have given my old pads to my school, and I let others use my old bat that is small, but our school team captain uses it all the time because he is short, but he takes me for granted and doesn't let me get a bat. No one likes him that much anyway, because his behavior is what brought him down from the 1st XI to the 2nd school team, which I play in.

[Neon Cricket]

Does this not happen anymore? Is it necessary for everyone to have their own kit now?

Sadly even since a Junior I've never had this (except for my school but not at my clubs), everyone was just expected to have the kit. I would be all for a fundraiser to raise money for club kit, I think the problem is that its only 1/2 children per team that seem to struggle so the rest of the club aren't so interested - I too was brought up struggling to pay for kit so I know how it feels, that's probably the main reason I'd want to help too being able to sympathise and all that!

[AverageCricketer]

I find the way this topic has gone fascinating.

I started playing cricket in the late 80s and all the clubs I played for (schools, adults) had club kitbags in which there were always enough gloves, pads, boxes and bats to provide for three batsmen. Throughout the time I've been playing, which is nearly thirty years, all of the clubs I've played for have had a kitbag with enough kit to allow for three batsmen to be padded up. Where I've run the club, I've raised funds to buy this kit in some cases. Even my current LMS side has our own kitbag with cast off bats, pads, glvoes, keeping kit that gives us shared kit and means that people don't have to bring their own stuff.

Does this not happen anymore? Is it necessary for everyone to have their own kit now?

Last year, I played U16 cricket and there was no 'club kitbag' Everyone brought their own stuff, but I play in an area where most people are better off. When my pads gave way, I had to borrow my teammates pads and I could borrow them only because he was out already.

[Neon Cricket]

That's a good idea, and maybe others can bring their old kit that they don't use anymore/grown out of. I find it hard to believe how wasteful society has become, as some people just throw away kit, rather than selling/giving it away. I have given my old pads to my school, and I let others use my old bat that is small, but our school team captain uses it all the time because he is short, but he takes me for granted and doesn't let me get a bat. No one likes him that much anyway, because his behavior is what brought him down from the 1st XI to the 2nd school team, which I play in.

That could be a better idea actually - something along the lines of a "donate your old kit" day, helping younger cricketers to progress and all that! Obviously it wouldn't be easy with Gloves as there is a limited with them until they wear out but Pads/Bats/Helmets/Protection etc would all be fine

[AverageCricketer]

I agree. As procricket said there will be more forum offers and hopefully more deals on sample kit like b3 did with their bags.

[richthekeeper]

i'm sure the Lord's Taverners are involved with helping clubs to acquire sets of communal junior kit...

personally i give all my old stuff to the club/juniors/team mates to use

[Neon Cricket]

Yeahh the Lords Taverners do a great job but the process to get funding isn't that straight forward, can imagine it puts a few off

[AverageCricketer]

Our school has kits for every team, which is great. The gear is that bad that people bring everything with them anyway, apart from pads, which can't fit in a school bag. I even brought my own thigh pad a couple of times, as the school kit doesn't have one. One bat was so bad that the middle was the size of a coin, because it was the only part that the mallet didn't make a horrible noise. However I can't blame it on the school, as they have at least provided a kit, but most times we just share around our own kit apart from the pads.

[thecord]

Yeahh the Lords Taverners do a great job but the process to get funding isn't that straight forward, can imagine it puts a few off

Lords Taverner's process is pretty simple really, takes less than 30mins to fill in a form and then you just have to post it with a cheque?
I've done this for my club this month

[Bats_Entertainment]

Did Gareth Cross specifically request butterfly willow?

[procricket]

Did Gareth Cross specifically request butterfly willow?

Not sure on this but will find out mate

[Bats_Entertainment]

Not sure on this but will find out mate

Thanks.

[procricket]

As usual I'm told a few of our pro's wanted to try them out and the feedback has been good nothing wow but good.