Hertfordshire Cricket

Two young cricketers from West Hertfordshire have been given the opportunity to be mascots for the England cricket team after impressing during Chance to Shine sessions within their school.

Azan Ashraf and Ella Broomfield (both 10 years of age) have been confirmed as the England Mascots for the T20 International and One Day Internationals on the 20th and 22nd of May.

Now well into its ninth year, the Chance to Shine charitable campaign to keep cricket alive in schools, continues to motivate and educate youngsters through cricket, with more girls than ever playing last year. Of the 350,000 youngsters engaged in Chance to Shine in 2013, 46% were girls.

Thanks to Waitrose, Azan and Ella will get to meet the players dressed in full England kit and will join the captains in the middle for the coin toss before the start of play!

Ella was selected after impressing during Chance to Shine sessions at Abbots Langley Primary School, which resulted in her joining her local club Abbots Langley CC. Azan’s enthusiasm towards the game impressed his Chance to Shine coach during a school session at Chambersbury Primary School in Hemel Hempstead which resulted in him being rewarded with this fantastic opportunity.

Sam Rose, Cricket Development Consultant for West Hertfordshire said “This has been a fantastic opportunity to provide two individuals with the chance of a lifetime which will hopefully inspire them to stay involved in cricket for many years. It is a great success story of how sport and cricket in general can inspire young people to want to participate in sport through sessions within schools that chance to shine delivers. We hope Azan and Ella thoroughly enjoy their day and continue to play cricket in years to come.”