Canberra's unprecedented summer of cricket has had a massive effect on the sport's popularity, with participation in school programs increasing significantly over the past 12 months.
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About 10,500 students between kindergarten and year 12 engaged in cricket programs throughout term one, a 54.5 per cent increase on the same period last year.
The boom comes off the back of a busy summer in Canberra, during which Manuka Oval hosted 13 Big Bash League fixtures and two internationals between Australia and India.
Cricket NSW Area Manager of Southern NSW and ACT Martin Gleeson said the huge summer in Canberra had rubbed off on the region's junior sporting population.
"On the back of our strong relationships with schools and the massive amount of elite cricket played locally over summer, term one has proven to be the busiest on record," Gleeson said.
"It is great that our premier cricket products like the men's internationals and BBL can inspire kids to want to play and love cricket."
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The huge offering of elite cricket last season has trickled down to an increased number of programs in schools, with 43 schools running cricket programs in term one, more than double the amount of 2020.
Growth was not limited to programs run by Cricket NSW, teacher run programs also experienced growth at a rapid rate within schools.
"Interestingly, only a very small percentage of these school participants were involved in school cups, which are scheduled and delivered by staff," Gleeson said.
"Most participants were involved in programs that have been teacher driven.
"This really goes a long way towards achieving our vision of developing a cricket culture in schools."
Manuka Oval proved the backbone of the Big Bash competition over the summer, propping of the competition time and again as games across the country had to be moved due to COVID-19.
A surge in Canberra junior club numbers is expected to follow the school boom next summer.
