UAE | General
Cartoon characters help promote cricket
Interfocus, an advertising company based in England, has created cartoon characters to inspire children to play cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), impressed with the idea, has signed up a contract to popularise cricket among children.
- By K.R. Nayar
- Published: 00:00 August 3, 2001
 Shen, the captain |
As per the contract, Raymedia Limited, founded by an Indian journalist Ashish Ray, along with Interfocus will produce cartoon films entitled 'The Pride Side' with these cartoon characters to stimulate interest for the game among children.
Providing complete information about the cartoon characters from London to Gulf News, Tom Huxtable of Interfocus said, "The Pride Side is a kids character concept developed for the English Cricket Board which will also appeal to adults."
 Maxie, the fast bowler |
According to a study by cricket experts in England, football has become the first choice of every young child in Britain and cricket is getting a low priority and that is being reflected through England's unimpressive performance at the international level. One of the main reasons for the ECB to seek the help of cartoon characters is to attract children early into the game and thereby produce good talent for the future.
 Widget, the skilled batsman |
Shen is the captain and he leads from the front. He is the No. 1 batsman of the side and keeps breaking records and is like greased lightning up and down the wicket. He believes in fair play, equality and the team always comes first for him. He is a big thinker of the game and a perfectionist.
Maxie is a fast bowler and a lower order hard-hitting batsman, who can strike fears into the hearts of the deep fielders. He is presented as a well built, powerful character with loads of stamina.
Widget is a skilled batsman and an outstanding fielder. He is introduced as one who has effected many run-outs, taken splendid catches and is also a good bowler. Little M, the lioness, is presented just to prove that cricket is not just for boys.
The cartoon characters in the long run will appear in cartoon series on television and in comic strips. The Pride Side is one of ECB's five-year strategy for the rejuvenation of youth cricket and to promote the values of teamwork, healthy lifestyles, sporting excellence and fun.
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