SUFFOLK Cricket Board has been rebranded as Suffolk Cricket.

Rob Jones, the cricket operations manager, said: “The concensus was that Suffolk Cricket Board was a bit too formal and that ‘Suffolk Cricket’ encompassed what we try and support and develop.

“Consequently the Development Team, as well as Suffolk Young Cricketers, Women’s and Girls will now be wearing branded ‘Suffolk Cricket’ clothing. The intention is that this will send out a consistent brand message and help people recognise ‘Suffolk Cricket’ covers many areas.”

Raising awareness of the rebranding is just one area that Suffolk Cricket will be promoting at tomorrow’s Clydesdale Bank 40 match between the Unicorns and Essex at the Victory Ground in Bury St Edmunds, starting at 1.45pm.

Suffolk Cricket will also be promoting Disability Cricket, the Holywells Community Cricket Club and Women’s & Girls (WAGS) cricket.

Jones said: “Suffolk Cricket already run an adult hearing impaired squad and are looking into two new initiatives. The first is table cricket within the Copleston and Westbourne Schools Sports Partnerships. Working alongside Danny Thorrington (partnership disability sports co-ordinator) the intention is to coach ‘Discovery’ children within several mainstream schools, culminating in an inter-schools competition. Our county Chance to Shine disability project, funded by the Cricket Foundation, will allow us to provide the ECB coaches to teach this sport, and long term we’d like to run across the county.

“We have two community coaches working in schools in and around Holywells High School where the community cricket club is based. These schools are classed as being within a ‘deprived’ area of Ipswich, however our aim is to continue to develop the after-school clubs based there (boys and girls) and longer term make it the focal point of the community for everyone to enjoy with initiatives like ‘Street 20’ and possible corporate matches (with any income going towards funding this project).

“Women’s and girls’ cricket has really taken off in Suffolk over the last couple of years and we’re endeavouring to help support areas of the county where at present girls’ sections are in their early stages. This has resulted in four development areas being formed with two to three clubs joining forces and, with the help of Suffolk Cricket funding, the coaching and venues indoor sessions have already been run.

“We now intend to extend this into the outdoor season and work with these clubs to develop these girls’ development squads further. The intention is for them to play matches against other or club sides, and eventually when there is enough interest, form their own independent club teams.”