Scarborough College coaches hail impact of 100-ball format on girls' cricket

School's programme is led by former Zimbabwe international

While the England and Wales Cricket Board are at pains to stress the significance of The Hundred among new fans, ticket-buyers and the TV audience, they would be well-served giving greater attention to the impact on schools.

At Scarborough College – Northern Superchargers are the nearest side - where Piet Rinke leads the delivery of cricket to students, there is a belief that the 100-ball competition has triggered an upturn of interest girls' cricket.

Launched two years ago, nine teams have exploded into life and already multiplied. And there has been immediate success, with two reaching the latter stages of the Sports Magazine National Cup.

"The fact that the girls go and watch it is the first thing," Rinke, who played 18 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, told The Cricketer. "The dynamics behind The Hundred is being short and sharp, and the appeal is that it is family orientated. You're getting a day out where you're watching the women followed by the men.

"Two games of cricket and whether you're a fan of cricket or not you're going to enjoy it and spend the three hours there at the games because of everything else that is going on around it.

"It is not just the cricket they are falling in love with. They're watching more live cricket and they're going to watch it more on TV. All of a sudden there is a bit more of a following behind it."

Results on the field are starting to mirror Scarborough's commitment to girls cricket off it. Zoe Myler has been installed to oversee the teams, allowed a more structured environment and a greater attention to detail.

"Giving it the due care and attention that any programme whether it be boys or girls,” a proud Rinke added. "Two years ago, we decided to venture into girls' cricket as well. This season we recently appointed a head of girls' cricket, Zoe Myler who was fantastic. The amount of time and dedication she was able to put into it is what gets girls interested in it.

"It was a two-pronged pull. First it was giving the opportunities to participate and improve.

"And secondly I am a firm believer that The Hundred competition has been a massive driving force for getting women playing the game of cricket. They have got idols to look up to now. It is not just something we've been able to do ourselves."