2 Jul 2015 | Cricket
Lucky schoolchildren from across Wales will be getting up close and personal with their cricketing heroes before anyone else ahead of the Investec Ashes Test next week.
Cricket fans will see England take on Australia in the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff from 8th-12th July but the England team will be arriving in the city this weekend to take part in local activities, giving youngsters the opportunity to meet the team's stars.
On Sunday 5th July the entire England squad will be taking part in activities at the Tafwyl Festival at Cardiff Castle from 12-1pm. The players will be coaching youngsters and learning some Welsh words to help them with the Welsh national anthem.
Ahead of the event, England's Captain, Alastair Cook said: We are very excited to visit Tafwyl Festival at Cardiff Castle.
In preparation for the Investec Ashes Test Match at Cardiff, the guys are keen to meet local fans and learn some Welsh.
On Monday and Tuesday both England and Australia will be training at The SSE SWALECand 250 schoolchildren have been given the once-in-a-lifetime chance of watching the two teams prepare for this historic match.
As well as this behind-the-scenes access, over the course of the Test Match another 250 school children and junior club players will be providing mascots, guards of honour and playing on the outfield during the lunch interval.
All of this activity follows on from three months of cricket community outreach events for youngsters run by Glamorgan Cricket which have engaged with almost 9,000 young cricket fans.
Many of the youngest cricket fans will have spent May and June representing their school in Cricket Wales Kwik Cricket competitions held throughout the length and breadth of the country. Over 600 schools have participated in an event that goes from strength to strength.
Junior club cricket is also well under way with some of the largest leagues in England and Wales offering many opportunities for youngsters to show off their skills and to enjoy playing cricket with their mates.
England play Australia at The SSE SWALEC in the first Investec Ashes Test Match of 2015 from 8-12 July. For anyone who wants to see history being made, there are a limited number of tickets available for the fifth day of the Test on 12th July for £25 (which is fully refundable if no cricket is played).