Cricket gear can be very expensive and can be a barrier of entry to some. However, the Cricket Gear Reuse scheme aims to change that by redistributing old cricket gear to increase its lifespan and encourage new players to take up cricket.

The scheme is run by Farnham’s Centre for Sustainable Design and is supported by the Surrey County Cricket Foundation and is made possible by the UK’s strategic priority fund.

Piloted in three locations the scheme looks at old gear that would usually be stored away untouched in someone’s garage, shed or attic and aims to give it a renewed life by giving it to young players looking to get into cricket.

Martin Charter, director of the Centre for Sustainable Design based at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, said “Diverting gear from landfill reduces CO2 emissions by extending the life of the kit. Research by CfSD has indicated that more than 1,624 tonnes of cricket gear could be going to waste each year, even though a lot of it may be good quality and have lots of play left in it. A survey also indicates that 52 per cent of people said they had to cut back on buying sports equipment due to the rising cost of living.”

The project is working with Surrey County Cricket, Frensham Cricket Club and Rowledge Cricket Club.

Rowledge Cricket Club hosted a drop-off session on Saturday, April 6 from 9am to midday in which they collected 62 items including bats, pads, helmets and gloves.

Frensham Cricket Club will host a collection on Saturday, April 13 from 2pm to 4pm.

Martin Charter and the CDPS are working on more innovations in order to make cricket more sustainable such as using vegan leather in gloves and pads as well as working on a bamboo bat.