Nottingham got a glimpse into the future of cricket this week, as nearly 600 young people from across England and Wales descended on the city for a unique festival of the sport.

The Chance to Shine National Street Cricket Finals took place over three days at the David Ross Sports Village in Wollaton and showcased a fast-paced, accessible version of cricket that is helping to attract and inspire a new generation of players.

Held just five miles from Trent Bridge, one of the country’s most iconic cricket grounds, the event brought together the best young street cricketers from across the country for what is believed to be the UK’s largest tape-ball cricket competition.

Teams competed in a six-a-side indoor format using a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape. The format originated on the streets of Karachi, Pakistan, before spreading across South Asia and beyond. Today, tape-ball cricket is played by communities around the world and is valued for its accessibility and fast-paced style.

Pakistan Women’s Cricket Captain, Fatima Sana, who attended the Girls National Street Final on Tuesday 11th August, spoke highly of the opportunities that events like this give to young girls. “It’s been a great experience. In Pakistan there’s a culture of tape ball cricket, and it’s how I started, so it’s exciting to see so many girls playing tape ball.” She added that “If I could give the girls one piece of advice, I’d tell them to keep believing in their dreams, working hard and believing in themselves.”

The Finals were delivered by Chance to Shine, the children’s cricket charity that helps young people to play, learn and develop through cricket. Alongside its work in one in four state primary schools across England and Wales, the charity runs free Street Cricket clubs in under-served communities, ensuring young people can take part without the need for expensive kit, equipment or facilities.

The event also highlighted the continued momentum behind cricket following a landmark summer for the women’s game. Taking place in a city that recently hosted matches during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the Finals demonstrated how the sport continues to evolve and reach new audiences, with young people helping to shape its future.

Street Clubs from across the country attended the event. Held in Nottingham every year, the scale of the National Street Finals demonstrates the importance and gravitas that the city holds for the future of cricket for these young people. Making the journey down from Durham, Ramanathas Kumareswaradas, Durham Street Cricket Club Coach, was delighted to see his U16 youth team take away the trophy on Thursday. “It’s been amazing. We’ve been trying to win Street Cricket Finals for the last eight years. Today our U16’s have made us so proud, they’ve tried their absolute best and they’ve done it absolutely magnificently” he commented.

*Main image @Chance2Shine fun scenes at the David Ross Sports Village.