The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sport Relief are inviting all cricketers to join their heroes, Nasser Hussain and Darren Gough and Pay to Play cricket on June 15th and 16th.

Players of all ages, from professionals to amateurs, can take part by getting sponsored to play a game, donate match fees, or have a straightforward whip-round in the dressing room. They can even donate their normal weekly subscriptions or hand over their beer money!

Sport Relief, a joint venture between BBC Sport and Comic Relief, has already secured support for Pay to Play in major sports including rugby and football and every penny raised will go towards helping children and young people who are leading unimaginably tough lives, here in the UK and across the world.

England Captain, Nasser Hussain said: "I'm delighted that the ECB and the cricket community is supporting Sport Relief. I'd urge clubs across the country to get behind 'PAY TO PLAY' on the weekend of June 15th and 16th to support this terrific cause."

England women's captain, Clare Connor said: "I'll be paying to play on the 15th and I'm sure cricketers from grassroots right up to the internationals will want to play their part and raise money for Sport Relief. Let's all get together on the weekend of June 15th and 16th and do our bit."

Richard Bevan, Managing Director of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), who are also supporting Cricket Pay to Play, said: "This is a unique opportunity for everyone involved in cricket in this country to unite. We need everyone from the First Class Counties, amateur clubs, umpires and officials through to school teams to help cricket help Sport Relief."

The world of cricket is also summoning all its batting and bowling might for Sport Relief with the Sport Relief Kwik Cricket Tournament 2002. Teams of Primary school-aged children can take part in the tournament, which is organised by the ECB and the English Schools Cricket Association. Kwik cricketers taking part are raising money for Sport Relief by getting sponsored for every run their team scores.

As a fantastic prize, Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher have offered to coach the team that wins the national tournament. The tournament is open to all pupils up to the age of 11 at all state Primary and Middle Schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Last year more than 4,750 teams participated in Kwik Cricket. This year's Tournament Final takes place on July 19th at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

For more information on how to get involved in Sport Relief and Cricket Pay to Play call 09068 10 10 10 for a fundraising pack (calls will cost no more than £1.50 which covers printing, postage and packing) or visit www.sportrelief.com For more information on Kwik Cricket, contact your County Cricket Development Officer or go to www.ecb.co.uk

The total amount of money raised by Pay To Play and the Sport Relief Kwik Cricket Tournament 2002 will be announced on Sport Relief's big day, July 13th when the BBC will show five hours of TV including a revived version of Superstars with Olympic hero Sir Steven Redgrave.

© ECB