Uniting communities through cricket

It is sometimes easy to forget when it is British summer time. Frequent rain showers, high winds and low temperatures make it feel far more like autumn or spring. The last few months have had their ups and downs in terms of weather, and there have been some truly glorious sunny days. A lot of people look forward to summer activities for the whole year, whether their interest is in gardening, walking or sports. At about this time of year nature has well and truly awoken after a winter slumber, and the countryside across the UK is absolutely gorgeous – trees are in full leaf and hedgerows are a wall of colour, with all sorts of flowers waving in the breeze.

These are the months that are also traditionally associated with the sport of cricket. Although the sport originated here in Britain, it is now enjoyed by people from all over the globe. Professional cricket may be a big deal nowadays, but there is still space for local teams and novices on village greens across England. Taking a weekend drive through villages in good weather can often mean at least one sighting of the players dressed all in white having a friendly match. The current financial climate means that people are trying to be as economical as possible, and some practice with better value products, rather than traditional, professional quality cricket equipment. In the interests of safety, some teams, especially ones with young players, use lighter weight plastic balls, rather than the more standard cork and leather versions. One area of cricket equipment that cannot be taken lightly is clothing – players occupying certain positions require added protection, for example shin pads, helmets and gloves.

It is possible to find some real bargains in stores at the moment, and cricket equipment can be found at wonderful value prices. Both online and high street retailers are aware that consumers are looking for exceptional value for money, and competition between shops is fierce. Some recent events have made the British public feel a bit down – the ‘Credit Crunch’, swine flu and the MP’s expenses scandal to name just three, and sports can be a great morale booster. Lots of communities which have long since lost local sports teams are once again seeking to regain the sense of community that they inspire, and cricket is a popular game among them. Money for community sports teams and clubs often has to be provided by members or local residents who wish to support them. For these reasons, the best possible value, reasonable quality cricket equipment is quickly snapped up, and retailers are only too aware of this.

Those looking for good value cricket equipment should be certain that they have done enough research into what is needed, and the average prices. Only when a decision has been made about which level of quality is desired and there is an understanding of what makes good cricket equipment should the search for deals begin. The internet can provide a great deal of choice, and there are numerous stockists who can arrange delivery of equipment all over the world.