Birthday party ideas for cricket fans

When planning a birthday party for a cricket fan, you can plan for a party at home or look further afield to locations that you know will be significant to them where you can host a celebration

When planning a birthday party for a cricket fan, you can plan for a party at home or look further afield to locations that you know will be significant to them where you can host a celebration, either at a cricket venue or at a sports centre.

Tickets to a cricket match

If you can, get tickets for a Test match or finals day for an international match, when the atmosphere is electric. If the person’s birthday is off-season and you want a gift for someone special in the meantime, consider a special gift that represents the relationship. A red rose preserved at the peak of perfection is perfect for your significant other or choose a yellow or orange preserved rose as an everlasting token of friendship and fun.

Tour a famous stadium

Take a tour of one the world’s most famous cricket stadiums. This could be incorporated into a vacation as a surprise to include the Oval in London or Edgbaston in Birmingham; the SCG in Sydney or MCG  in Melbourne; Eden Gardens in Kolkata or Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi; the Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka or Newlands, Cape Town. Tours usually include the viewing of the media centre, the teams' changing rooms and a walkout onto the pitch.

You can also see where the players train as well as the hospitality suites and venues used by a whole host of celebrities and cricket stars. You can have a private tour, or join a public tour.

Cricket simulator challenge

Let them face their icons on a cricket simulator as they engage in some fun challenges. Choose a simulator that can take videos of every player, so they have a record of their success, or at least their efforts. The best cricket simulators are those used in sports halls and leisure centres that can usually be hired out on evenings and weekends with a fully trained operative who takes full control of the event, setting up various challenges and competitions to keep everyone entertained.

Cricket tea party

Theme your birthday party around a Sunday afternoon of cricket in Britain. Deckchairs on the village green, sunshine and a gentle breeze with the sound of leather on willow breaking the peace occasionally. This romantic appeal of village cricket may now be rare, but the cricket tea at the half-way break is still observed by many and makes a great idea for an outdoors afternoon birthday tea party.

Keeping to the cricket theme, offer the vital elements of sandwiches, scones, cakes, fruit cordial and lots of breakfast tea. Finger sandwiches are the most popular, slices of thin white bread, lightly buttered, with the crusts cut off. Traditional fillings include the classic thinly sliced, peeled cucumber, egg and cress, salmon and cucumber, ham, beef and horseradish, cheese and pickle or coronation chicken.

Savoury options should include sausage rolls, mini pork pies, scotch eggs and a salmon and broccoli tart. Scones and cakes should include a classic victoria sponge as essentials. The simple sponge can be jazzed up with jam and cream or fresh strawberries in summer. Add Battenberg cake, a chocolate cake or a traditional rich fruit cake.

Meet the players

If your cricket fan supports a particular team, search out a “Meet the Players” event. These are usually ticketed events that start with a tour of the grounds followed by a question and answer session with some of the team and staff.

If you find an event taking place outside the cricket ground, this is usually a charity event. Here you may have the chance to challenge a player in darts, table tennis or pool with the chance to win a prize if you defeat the players. This is the best chance of getting to know the players better, have fun and raise money for a good cause.