The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced that all 18 First Class Counties and Scotland will offer free tickets to children attending Yorkshire Bank 40 games between 2nd and 26th August 2013.
A total of 31 games will be available free of charge for any child visiting any of the selected matches with a paying adult* as part of a ground-breaking ECB initiative which aims to attract more youngsters to watch live cricket at their local county during the school holidays.
The promotion starts with Surrey's match against Essex Eagles at the Kia Oval on Friday 2nd August and closes with the last round of group matches on August Bank Holiday Monday (26th) with teams fighting it out to qualify for the semi-finals.
David Collier, ECB Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to offer this unique opportunity to young cricket fans this summer as we look to take advantage of the increased interest cricket enjoys during an Ashes summer.
"I would encourage any parent whose child may be interested in the sport to get down to their local County ground and experience the game live during the school holidays. "
To find out more visit ecb.co.uk/kidsgofree
The 31 games on offer include:
|
Date |
Home team | Away team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02.08.2013 | Surrey | Essex Eagles | The Kia Oval |
| 04.08.2013 | Surrey | Scotland Saltires | The Kia Oval |
| 11.08.2013 | Hampshire Royals | Essex Eagles | Ageas Bowl |
| 11.08.2013 | Leicestershire Foxes | Yorkshire Vikings | Grace Road |
| 11.08.2013 | Middlesex Panthers | Unicorns | Lord's |
| 11.08.2013 | Scotland Saltires | Durham Dynamos | CityletsTitwood, Glasgow |
| 11.08.2013 | Surrey | Derbyshire | The Kia Oval |
| 11.08.2013 | Warwickshire Bears | Netherlands | Edgbaston |
| 11.08.2013 | Worcestershire | Kent Spitfires | New Road |
| 12.08.2013 | Glamorgan | Somerset | SWALEC Stadium |
| 13.08.2013 | Essex Eagles | Durham Dynamos | The Essex County Ground |
| 13.08.2013 | Gloucestershire | Leicestershire Foxes | The County Ground, Bristol |
| 13.08.2013 | Lancashire Lightning | Derbyshire Emirates | Old Trafford |
| 13.08.2013 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | Kent Spitfires | The County Ground, Northampton |
| 13.08.2013 | Nottinghamshire Outlaws | Worcestershire | Trent Bridge |
| 13.08.2013 | Sussex Sharks | Netherlands | The BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground |
| 13.08.2013 | Yorkshire Vikings | Unicorns | Headingley |
| 14.08.2013 | Glamorgan | Middlesex Panthers | SWALEC Stadium |
| 15.08.2013 | Derbyshire | Durham Dynamos | The County Ground, Derby |
| 15.08.2013 | Hampshire Royals | Surrey | Ageas Bowl |
| 15.08.2013 | Kent Spitfires | Warwickshire Bears | The Spitfire Ground |
| 15.08.2013 | Leicestershire Foxes | Unicorns | Grace Road |
| 15.08.2013 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | Netherlands | The County Ground, Northampton |
| 15.08.2013 | Somerset | Yorkshire Vikings | The County Ground, Taunton |
| 18.08.2013 | Gloucestershire | Glamorgan | The County Ground, Bristol |
| 19.08.2013 | Warwickshire Bears | Worcestershire | Edgbaston |
| 25.08.2013 | Glamorgan | Leicestershire Foxes | St Helens, Swansea |
| 26.08.2013 | Derbyshire | Hampshire Royals | The County Ground, Derby |
| 26.08.2013 | Durham Dynamos | Surrey | Emirates Durham ICG |
| 26.08.2013 | Warwickshire Bears | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | Edgbaston |
| 26.08.2013 | Worcestershire | Sussex Sharks |
New Road |
The 18 first-class counties will play alongside Scotland, the Netherlands and the Unicorns with the teams dividing into three groups and playing other teams in their group both home and away.
The teams finishing top of each group will qualify for the semi-finals with the next best team across all groups awarded the remaining place.
Lord's will host the 2013 Yorkshire Bank 40 Final on Saturday September 21.
