Howzat! - Wandsworth welcomes four new all-weather cricket pitches 

Published: Friday, August 11, 2023

  • Initiative builds on this summer's Ashes fever.
  • Cricketers can play all-year-round on four new pitches.
  • Battersea Park hosted launch event.

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Battersea Park hosts one of the new pitches

With this summer’s exciting Ashes battle sparking new interest in cricket, Wandsworth residents interested in taking up the sport have four new all-weather pitches to play on thanks to a new funding initiative.
 
The Hundred cricket tournament has installed brand new all-weather playing surfaces in four of Wandsworth’s parks and common.
 
Budding cricketers can now play the sport all year round in Battersea Park, King George’s Park, Wandsworth Common and Wandsworth Park. 

The new pitches offer local communities opportunity to take up the sport and get fit and active through playing cricket. Over the next three years, 100 pitches will be funded across England and Wales as part of a joint collaboration between the England and Wales Cricket Board and funding partner KP Snacks.

And earlier this week the initiative was launched at the new Battersea Park pitch with stars from London Spirit & Oval Invincibles in attendance along with families from the area who were encouraged to try their hand at batting and bowling.
 
Judi Gasser, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “This summer’s Ashes series has certainly created huge new interest in the sport so I was really pleased to see so many families getting involved at this week’s launch event in Battersea Park.
 
“Encouraging local people of all ages to take up exercise through sport is a key aim for the council so I’m delighted to welcome these four new pitches to the borough and hope they encourage a new generation of players who in years ahead may take on Australia in another Ashes showdown.”