Black Caps out to inspire next generation

Black Caps star Mitchell McClenaghan at Lincoln Primary School for today's launch of the Cricket Smart schools programme. Photo / Kurt Bayer

A Black Caps-backed cricket initiative got off the mark in hundreds of classrooms and playgrounds today, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of fans and players.

Black Caps stars Martin Guptill, Corey Anderson, Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan chatted, high-fived, and played cricket with pupils of Lincoln Primary School in Canterbury to help launch Cricket Smart.

As New Zealand prepares to co-host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 later in the summer, the new education initiative will teach kids how to play our national summer game.

But it will also be used by teachers inside the classroom as a way to examine different aspects of New Zealand life that will be broadcast to the world during the tournament, while also helping them learn about other countries and cultures.

Around 700 schools have already signed up to Cricket Smart and have started making use of it in their classrooms from today -- the start of the fourth school term.

"This is where you get your next generation of supporters from," said Munro as he signed autographs for the Lincoln school pupils.

The big-hitting batsman was impressed by the "genuine excitement" the children had for the tournament, and was equally impressed by their knowledge of where they will be playing and who their opponents will be.

Cricket Smart has been designed by New Zealand Cricket and ICC Cricket World Cup in conjunction with Ministry of Education-endorsed education developers.

Teachers can adapt the Cricket Smart resources to align with each school's curriculum and they can be used across multiple subject areas.

"It's really cross-curriculum and can be used in many different directions, like maths and geography," said Lincoln Primary deputy principal Tracey Riley.

"For lots of children it's a great opportunity to use their passion for a subject to help them learn."

Keen cricketers Flynn Titter, 7, and Jackson Sara, 8, were both delighted to meet their favourite player, Corey Anderson.

"He's really, really good," said Flynn.

"He hits big sixes," Jackson added.

Flynn was "really excited" to be learning about cricket while at school, and hoped to be able to watch some World Cup games when the tournament starts in Christchurch on February 14.

After today's launch, the professional players -- who spoke of their own excitement at playing the World Cup in front of friends and family -- had a game outside with the youngsters.

Opening batsman Guptill wowed them with a towering six that landed on the basketball courts, while Munro showed off his trademark, reverse slog-sweep into the playground.

The head of New Zealand for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Therese Walsh, said New Zealand will have waited 23 years for the return of what is now one of the world's biggest sporting events.

Cricket Smart is part of a wider legacy project for the event and an opportunity to give Kiwi kids "a tangible way of understanding what makes the tournament special", she said.

Free cricket gear is provided to all registered schools while other resources include online videos that cover the global game, its history, the tournament, and skills development.