Australian cricketers Josh Hazlewood, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Tanveer Sangha have joined young players, parents and volunteers at Government House in Sydney to launch Cricket Australia’s 2026 Play Cricket Week.
The annual campaign encourages children and players of all ages and abilities to register for cricket ahead of the 2026-27 season, with activities planned across Australia from 31 August.
The launch event brought the four Australian stars together with Woolworths Cricket Blast participants, junior cricketers, parents and volunteers for games on the lawns of Government House.
The campaign follows a record summer for junior participation, with more than 150,000 children aged five to 12 registering for Woolworths Cricket Blast last season.
Cricket Australia is hoping to build on that participation through Woolworths Cricket Blast, Junior Cricket and Smash Series Cricket, which provide different pathways for young players to get involved in the sport.
James Allsopp, Cricket Australia’s Chief of Cricket, said Play Cricket Week was an opportunity to encourage more children to take part.
“We would love to see more kids playing and loving cricket and Play Cricket Week is always a fantastic celebration and a great way to encourage registrations for the upcoming season,” Allsopp said.
He also highlighted the role of volunteers, coaches and officials at local cricket clubs, encouraging people to consider taking up roles beyond playing.
“Local volunteers and officials are the heart of community cricket and Play Cricket Week is a great time to sign up as a coach, umpire or volunteer at your local club,” he said.
Cricket Australia has also launched Coach360, a new approach to coach development aimed at supporting coaches and improving their skills.
Allsopp said local clubs continued to provide opportunities for people to connect through cricket, while the upcoming international and domestic season would offer another reason for players and supporters to get involved.
Special Play Cricket Week activities will be held across Australia’s states and territories, with registrations now open for the 2026-27 season.
Young players and those interested in coaching, umpiring or volunteering can register through Play Cricket.
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