Wollaston Cricket Club is presently involved with the Chance to Shine Scheme. The following information from the Chance to Shine website explains the rationale behind the scheme.

Chance to shine is on the way to raising £25 million from voluntary donations and a further £25 million in matched government funding. During the course of ten years Chance to shine will reach a third of all schools in England and Wales.

Chance to shine has selected 100 clubs to deliver high quality coaching to 600 schools.

“We are not planning a one-hit wonder,” Cricket Foundation Director, Nick Gandon, insisted. “We intend to build sustainable cricket cultures in each of the schools where our coaches will operate. That’s not done overnight. Coaches will have contact with every school for about four hours per week throughout the Summer Term. What’s more the coaches are potentially committed to the schools for up to ten years.”

The cricket programmes consist of continuous coaching, skills awards and regular opportunities to play in organised cricket matches. "Playing fields and facilities are essential. We’re encouraging the cricket clubs linked to the schools to make their own facilities available. We’re also encouraging local independent schools and others to do the same, as well as contributing in other ways.”

The Summer Term cricket activities will be supplemented by three weeks of school holiday activities.

Matthew Hoggard, a vital member of the England team, is taking a special interest in Chance to shine.

“I was lucky,” said Matthew. “My school hardly played cricket but my Dad took me to Pudsey Congs Cricket Club. Chance to shine is really important because schools have a vital role in teaching the game to children and in supporting clubs. Without cricket in schools, too many youngsters will miss their chance and be lost to the game.”

As the campaign unfolds, Matthew will be keeping in close touch with developments and will be reporting regularly on the Chance to shine site.

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Key facts

Full Name: Matthew James Hoggard
Born: December 31, 1976, Leeds, Yorkshire
County: Yorkshire
Other teams: Free State, England
Test debut: v West Indies, 2000
ODI debut: v Zimbabwe, 2001
Batting style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling style: Right Arm Fast Medium

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The shaggy mane may have been trimmed, but 'Hoggy' is continuing his consistent form with the ball, which brought him his 200th wicket in the First Test against Sri Lanka.

Dream Come True

"I'm not a massive stats man, but it's a dream come true to get 200 wickets and join the legends," he said. "I felt like a bag of spanners in the first innings. It didn't come out right because you're always battling with the slope at Lord's, but I got better and better as the game progressed."

Bowling Maidens

Hoggard says he's settled in to the role of containing. "I just bowl for maidens because as Glenn McGrath's been telling everybody for years, it's a simple game. If you stop them scoring, you get wickets. I'm very happy in that role and it's good to have quality fast bowlers at the other end."

Cooley's Inspiration

Hoggard acknowledged that it was the influence of Troy Cooley that kick-started his career in 2004. England's former bowling coach has now moved Down Under to prepare the Aussies for the Ashes. "He's been a massive inspiration and a great asset to English cricket," said Hoggard. "I wish him luck but hopefully he won't replicate what he's done over here."

300 Wickets?

"It would be lovely to get there," said Hoggard of the 300 mark, "but I'll be looking game by game, season by season. There's good pressure for places at the moment and healthy competition to keep performing. We've got people in the wings who are very good bowlers and it's nice for the selectors to have a squad to rotate in case of injuries. Who do you pick and who do you leave out?"