LV= Insurance Pride of Cricket Awards 2023: Vote for your Young Hero

The Pride of Cricket Awards judging panel has whittled the entry list down to a shortlist of four names. Read their nominations and vote for your favourite…

Entries have been received for the LV= Young Hero award for 2023.

The Pride of Cricket Awards judging panel has whittled the entry list down to a shortlist of four names.

Voting is open until Monday, July 31, 2023 at 4pm.

THE SHORTLIST

Bryan Mudalige, Walmley CC

Sara Yasin, Calmore Sports/Wicketz

Louie Anderson, Twyford House CC

Freddie Collinson, Gloucester CC

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Bryan Mudalige, Walmley CC

Bryan has captained the under-10 and under-11 sides for both Warwickshire and his local club, Walmley CC.

Bryan is extremely passionate about bringing the game to a wider audience and has produced a variety of digital content to encourage youngsters to take up cricket as a sport and bring communities together.

His work includes match highlights, training videos a video segment called "did you know".

Bryan's Instagram account is growing at a rapid speed (it has clicked past 5,000 followers), and his videos are reaching over 25,000 views on average.

Sara Yasin, Calmore Sports/Wicketz

Wicketz is a cricket engagement programme for young people aged between eight and 19. In early 2021, Southampton Wicketz were yet to engage a female participant. Since Sara joined, she has solely paved the way for other girls and is now leading girls' cricket locally and nationally.

Sara now holds an ECB Core Coach qualification (the first Southampton Wicketz participant to do so), sits on national programme youth advisory boards and coaches in communities and on talent pathways in Southampton.

Her attendance at the 2022 Wicketz girls national residential was another opportunity to support and inspire young girls on the programme nationally, spending time with girls from around the country.

Her involvement in Wicketz and cricket as a young Muslim woman makes her journey even more impressive, as she is breaking down cultural barriers for women from faith groups to participate in sports in their local community.

Recently, 38 women and girls from South Asian heritage took part in a Wicketz community engagement event in Southampton. This success wouldn't have been achieved without Sara leading the way.

Sam Moss, Southampton Wicketz lead, said: "Sara's journey is a remarkable one. From a young girl who could have been lost to the game at 15, to now leading women and girls' cricket nationally, she is a credit to the Southampton Wicketz programme. We are proud to support Sara in her development as a young person and will be following her journey in the game."

Louie Anderson, Twyford House CC

Louie Anderson, 15, has made an outstanding contribution to cricket in Bristol over recent years.

Louie plays cricket at his local club, Twyford House CC, and participates in sessions delivered by the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation (GCF) coaches in his secondary school.

However, it is his contributions to his local Chance to Shine Street hub in Shirehampton that sets Louie apart. Despite going through a busy school period as a Year 10 pupil, Louie still takes the time to attend sessions and helps encourage younger cricketers' development.

Most participants are considerably younger than Louie, however that doesn't deter him and he takes great care in ensuring all children enjoy the sessions and have opportunities to progress, while using the time to develop his own game.

His nominator, Harry Watts of the GCF, said: "Louie is respectful, caring and enthusiastic - a true credit to our programme.

"Louie definitely has a future as a cricket coach, however I hope he doesn't leave our programme any time soon! Louie has a very bright future."

Freddie Collinson, Gloucester CC

Freddie was on Gloucestershire's Emerging Player Programme, and had played county cricket since the age of nine.

He has also played for Gloucester Cricket Club from the age of seven and played his first match for the 1st XI a matter of weeks before he was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer found in his right tibia in September 2020.

Fred underwent intense chemotherapy for eight months and numerous operations including a tibia bone transplant in August 2021. Throughout this time his county and club teammates have rallied round to show support.

Fred's county teammates have raised just under £17,000 for the Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust with a 24-hour net session, and his schoolmates at Wycliffe College raised £800 for Molly Olly's, a charity that grants wishes to children with life threatening conditions. Fred's local club also raised over £7,000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust with 'A Century for Fred' 100-mile bike ride.

Fred has shown immense resilience and worked incredibly hard over the last 17 months to learn to walk again, to recover muscle mass, and to get fit enough and agile enough to return to the game he loves. He has not missed a net session since September and has been in the nets three times a week at school.

His determination has paid off and he played in his first cricket match for three years with Gloucester Cricket Club's 1st XI earlier this summer.

His mum Sarah said: "Throughout his cancer journey, from diagnosis in September 2020 at the age of 15, to the physio signing him off in April at the age of 17, Fred has remained humble and appreciative to those who have got him to where he is today.

"He is so excited to be back playing again, and his mental and physical resilience is humbling for his parents, peers, teammates, teachers and coaches."