Today, at Headstone Manor Cricket Club, two of the England Women's Cricket team, vice-captain Charlotte Edwards and their latest star, 17-year-old debutante Isa Guha are launching the Norwich Union Inter Cricket Summer Schools.

Inter Cricket has played an instrumental part in increasing the numbers of girls playing cricket in schools and clubs, and according to recent figures girls participation increased by 34 per cent since 2000. There are now a record number 300 cricket clubs across England and Wales where girls and women can play social cricket.

Since the scheme started it in March 2000, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has run girls only Inter Cricket Winter Tournaments in several Counties and 20 separate girls Inter Cricket competitions at Home County Youth Games, taking place throughout June and July.

The success of the game of Inter Cricket, an ECB development game, has been phenomenal. The ECB estimates that over half a million children have taken part in Inter Cricket over the last two years, which is good news for the future of cricket. In fact, in just 2 years the scheme has succeeded in attracting over a third of all secondary schools to use the game as an introduction to cricket.

Participation in Inter Cricket's two promotional schemes, the Summer Schools and Winter Indoor Tournaments clearly demonstrates this growth. In 2001, 25 Summer Schools took place. This summer the number has doubled to 54, with 32 out of 38 counties taking part. The Winter Tournaments have been equally successful, with 1,066 schools in 34 Counties taking part this year compared with 250 schools in 17 Counties taking part in 2001.

Run by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) qualified coaches, the Summer Schools are generally three days long and give both girls and boys aged 11-15 years old the chance to play and learn basic cricket skills. However, the emphasis is on making cricket fun with matches and skills games – plus information on general fitness and the importance of nutrition.

Since the scheme was launched, Norwich Union has taken Inter Cricket to every County in the UK. Over 3,200 secondary schools have received information and with a partnership with the Lord's Taverners, over 2,200 Inter Cricket kits will be distributed by the end of this year. Inter Cricket has been especially successful in inner city areas where there is a lack of traditional cricket grounds and space is scarce. This is because it can be played on almost any surface, both indoors and out, all year-round.

Commenting on the Norwich Union Inter Cricket Summer Schools, England Women's vice-captain, Charlotte Edwards said: "For England to be successful we need more girls playing cricket. Initiatives such as Inter Cricket help to increase the appeal of the sport and get them started. Inter Cricket has shown how the right scheme can really make a difference. In the past the traditional game has not appealed the girls due to its image of being boring and just a boy's game. I look forward to seeing some of the youngsters taking part this summer developing into top women's players and hopefully, Isa Guha will also prove an inspiration to girls thinking about taking up cricket."

Norwich Union Sponsorship Manager Bill Reynolds said: "We are delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the Inter Cricket scheme and to give the opportunity to youngsters from all over the UK to play cricket. To hear that Inter Cricket is encouraging more involvement in cricket amongst girls is excellent news. It's our aim to take the scheme into all areas of the UK, for both girls and boys and hopefully to help some of today's kids become tomorrow's cricketers."

© Norwich Union