How people learn cricket: the boards' own entry programmes.

Why junior cricket looks different

The MCC's Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 4th Edition, 2026) leave two key junior settings to the national governing body: the size of ball used in a match (Law 4.6) and the length of the pitch in junior cricket (Law 6.6). The 2026 Laws also name a Size 3 ball, 133 to 140 g, which replaced the under-13 junior ball of the 2022 edition. That is why each board's entry programme can use its own shorter pitches, smaller teams and modified formats.

The Spirit of Cricket, as the ICC's playing conditions reproduce it (women's ODI conditions, July 2026), extends responsibility for fair play in junior cricket to teachers, coaches and parents as well as players.

England and Wales (ECB)

The ECB described Dynamos on 27 February 2020 as running in courses of 6 to 12 weeks at local centres, with sessions on batting, bowling and fielding and a fast "countdown cricket" game modelled on The Hundred. The ECB's own releases disagree on when Dynamos began: the February 2020 release launched it for the 2020 season, while the ECB's August 2021 release says Dynamos was introduced in 2021. Neither page explains the difference; the 2020 season was disrupted by COVID-19.

A search summary of a county club's page says the ECB launched All Stars Cricket on 20 March 2017 for children aged five to eight, with a kit pack sent home and an eight-week course at a local centre. We did not open the ECB's own 2017 page, so this launch date and description are unconfirmed.

Australia (Cricket Australia)

Cricket Australia's programme page (as read on 22 October 2026) describes Woolworths Cricket Blast as a weekly programme of 60 to 90 minute sessions across three progressive skill levels, with equipment provided and a Starter or Progression pack for each registered child.

Cricket Australia's own sources disagree on the ages. The programme page says it is for children aged 10 and under. A Cricket Australia news story of 4 February 2024 describes it as for ages 5 to 12. The same 2024 story says Australian Cricket's five-year strategy aims to double the number of 5 to 12 year olds playing cricket.

New Zealand (NZC)

New Zealand Cricket describes its junior cricket as aimed at primary and intermediate school children (page as read 22 October 2026):

• Smash Play Junior-Tamariki is its national introductory programme, and needs no team or minimum number of players.
• ANZ Junior Game is the team-based next step, with shorter pitches, fewer players, smaller boundaries, more balls in play and fewer wides.
• Its Year 7 and 8 Cup and Shield tournaments are under review, with associations trialling regional alternatives.

South Africa

KFC Mini-Cricket, run with Cricket South Africa, is described in a partnership release, which we saw only as an undated search summary, as a softball-style first taste of cricket for boys and girls aged 3 to 12. We could not confirm this from Cricket South Africa, so the ages and description are unconfirmed.

Safety rules for young players

Boards publish separate safety rules for junior cricket, such as bowling limits and helmet requirements. They are set out board by board, with dates and whether each is mandatory or a guideline, on the junior cricket rules page. The ICC's Concussion Management Guidelines (June 2025) call for a more conservative approach to concussion in children aged 18 and under; each body's rules are on concussion by board.

Choosing where to start

This site does not recommend any club, coach or provider. The national board for the country concerned and a qualified coach are the right starting points. How many children take part in these programmes, by each board's own count, is on how many people play.