Cricket facilities for community opened at Myra Shay Recreation

Outdoor cricket practice nets have been built in Myra Shay Recreation Ground off Barkerend Road - thanks to funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) - and include a three-lane public open access practice net facility, built to ECB standards, on a section of the park close to Lapage Primary School, while a non-turf pitch has also been created.

The event, organised by the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) charity, saw the culmination of a Tapeball tournament with teams going head-to-head, and a range of other cricketing activities.

Northern Superchargers player Jenny Gunn coaches a youngsters at Myra Shay

It is one of the steps in creating a new ‘sports hub’ at the Bradford Council-owned facility.

The Tapeball competition involved a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape - a technique often used in backyard cricket.

Jenny Gunn, who plays for Northern Superchargers, the Leeds-based Hundred competition star and former England international, attended the event.

Myra Cricket action at the opening of new facilities at Myra Shay Recreation Ground off Barkerend Road

She said: “It is amazing to see these facilities. These nets are open to all and provide an opportunity to play regardless of age or background. “Bradford is an area we need to focus on and these facilities have been made possible thanks to a collaboration of organisations.”

Zain Ul Abdin, a community development officer in Bradford, for YCF, said: “The opening ceremony is a special day for the Foundation – with lots of community cricket opportunities and activities also available to take part in on the day.

A Tapeball competition – where a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape and is used in backyard cricket – also took place,

“A lot of work has gone on to reach this point by a number of organisations and today we hope to inspire young people and members of the community to make the most of these fantastic cricketing facilities now and in the future.”

Across the district the ECB is funding a number of open access facilities.

The new facilities include a three-lane public open access practice net facility, built to ECB standards,

Bradford Park Avenue has been central to the ECB's investment plans in the city because of the role it plays in servicing the community, including the Quaid-E-Azam league and programmes targeted at children.

The ECB has invested more than £650,000 directly into facilities at Bradford Park Avenue, including the eight-lane net facility and changing pavilion used by thousands of participants annually. It has worked with Bradford Council to build 12 non-turf pitches and three further practice facilities around the city, to ensure there is local access to facilities.