TABLE-TOP CRICKET
The Lord's Taverners have placed their support behind Table-Top Cricket in their bid to assist those less fortunate to participate in the game of cricket. In conjunction with the Cricket ACT (ACT CA), the Taverners sponsored the introduction of Table Top Cricket to the ACT, the first formal sponsorship in Australia, with a sum of $5000.
At the initial tournament, Australian cricketer Brad Hodge was there for the day as a special guest to help launch Table-Top Cricket into the community. This activity involves invoking the spirit and the ethics of the game to give the severely disabled an opportunity to enjoy the game via a format played on a table-top.
In developing the sport of Table-Top Cricket in Australia, the ACT Taverners and ACT CA worked closely with the Australian Sports Commission to create genuine competitive opportunities for members of the community with disabilities. ACT CA in further supporting the new concept announced that Table-Top Cricket will become a division of the Kookaburra Cup. This is run in conjunction with the U12, 14 and 16 age groups, creating an all inclusive event. Furthermore the Table-Top Cricket division is referred to as the Lord's Taverners Table-Top Cricket Division of the Kookaburra Cup.
Since its inception, the Taverners have sponsored the attendance of 100 disadvantaged children at the annual PM's XI match. Most recently, Rick Forster, President of the ACT Lord’s Taverners, opened the batting on a Wednesday early in November 2009 at the Schools Table Top Cricket contest, sponsored by Lord’s Taverners ACT Branch. There were about 60 children from 9 schools taking part in the competition. This is the largest number of schools to participate so far. There was a representative from Cricket Australia present and one of the founders of this form of cricket from the UK. Cricket ACT did an excellent job as did the students from CIT who assisted with scoring and umpiring. Particular thanks to Dougal Reed of Cricket ACT for his contribution and support. The winning team came, Black Mountain School, were presented with the Kookaburra Shield. An excellent innovation was the award to all the children of a medal.
Click on the link below to download the rules of the game:
The Taverners also sponsor the attendance of 100 disadvantaged children at the annual PM's IX versus the visiting international touring team. Read more about the Junior Taverners click here.
