Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and the white rose county’s England women’s fast bowler Katherine Brunt are urging Bradford and Keighley primary and junior schools to help the Drax Cup reach its target of 500 teams competing in 2014.

A total of 55 schools from the area (31 in Bradford and 24 in Keighley) took part last year, with Kildwick Primary School finishing as runners-up.

The two stars, who are ambassadors for the Drax Cup, believe the excitement and growing interest in the competition will prompt even more to enter and set a new record.

Gale said: “I first played cricket when I was eight and the Drax Cup is a fantastic way of introducing the game to youngsters.”

Brunt added: “Women’s cricket is stronger than ever and this competition gives girls the chance to get involved and find out just how good the sport is.”

The Drax Cup is the biggest cricket competition for under-nines in the country and is open to schools in Yorkshire and Teesside.

School Sports Partnerships need to enter by Monday, April 28 by completing the entry form on the competition website at www.thedraxcup.co.uk.

The competition is organised by Yorkshire County Cricket Club in conjunction with the Yorkshire Cricket Board, Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and Yorkshire Schools’ Cricket Association.

The sponsorship by Drax is part of the company’s Cricket in the Community scheme, which also provides coaching to schools.

For full details and competition rules, visit www.thedraxcup.co.uk.