Cricket: Young players rise in North

Northland Cricket Association general manager, Warren Marr, hopes interest in cricket generated by the Cricket World Cup will grow participation in Northland.Photo / File

Rising numbers of secondary school students in Northland are signing up to play cricket, bucking a national trend.

Statistics released by the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council, measuring students with meaningful participation in sports, showed 294 secondary school students took part in cricket in 2014 in Northland. This was an increase from the 245 who participated in 2013.

Northland Cricket Association general manager Warren Marr said cricket participation in Northland had increased despite previously declining.

"Over the past few years we have had a moderate decline in cricket participation. Having said that, this year a couple of our boys' high schools have had quite a significant increase in participation and whether that is because of the cricket world cup or not is uncertain," he said.

"As a result, we have about two or three extra teams playing this season which is good."

New Zealand Cricket is also developing a new version of the game to rejuvenate the sport at community level.

General manager of amateur cricket Edward Shuttleworth said interest had already surged since the start of the world cup.

"We have particularly seen a big uptake in primary schools, but the challenge is making sure there is a transition available for the kids so when they move through to secondary school and college so they can keep up the sport."

This interest, coupled with the yet-to-be-named new initiative to revive the game, may save cricket in secondary schools, Mr Shuttleworth said.

"We are launching a new programme for males and females, right through junior and secondary school for the 2015/16 cricket season that has traditional elements to it, but is modified to meet the gaps and fix the issues that have been raised," he said.

Mr Marr said secondary school was a traditionally tough area to keep kids involved in cricket.

"Schools are also taking less responsibility and accountability for students playing sports as well and that has had a huge affect on the sport.

"I think the drop-off in participation rates is also because of young people's attitude to sport now. They would rather be with friends and doing other stuff than playing cricket."