FUTURE stars of female cricket will receive a helping hand through a new hub, set for St Benedict’s Catholic High School.

The Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation was created with the aim of enhancing lives through cricket and the MCCF will launch its girls hub at the Whitehaven school in 2021.

The foundation’s mission statement is to open talent pathways for young people in cricket regardless of gender, age, race or economic circumstances.

Whitehaven will see one of their many hubs which are designed to provide free-to-access training and match play.

The hubs provide the service to 2,500 state-educated young cricketers at over 60 sites across the UK.

Cumbria Cricket’s Girls Talent Lead, Liz Priddle said: “This is very exciting for Cumbrian Cricket and a much needed opportunity to level the playing field in terms of the development of our female talent. “Young cricketers who have attended previous MCCF Hubs have said that it was an amazing experience, where they have felt inspired and supported.

“It’s also a chance to meet other girls in Cumbria who are passionate about the sport.”

She said: "The programme creates more opportunities for girls to play cricket, improves their skills and confidence and fuels their interest in playing the game, which is so important. I highly recommend the programme and want to encourage any girls in Cumbria who are interested in cricket to take part."

Copeland has a high number of young people participating in cricket, with teenager brother and sister, Cameron and Maddie Wood playing alongside each other in Whitehaven Cricket Club.

The hub will look to draw in the next crop of cricketing talent with a taster session in January, and is free to attend for girls aged 11-15.

MCCF are also accepting girls aged 10 but turning age 11 in 2021. Those taking part will be given 10 weeks of high-quality intensive cricket coaching during the winter and match play and talent ID opportunities over the summer cricket season, along with strength and conditioning training.