Carshalton’s Bethan Evans was recognised for outstanding services to grassroots cricket by David Lloyd at the npower Bangladesh Test Match at The Brit Oval.

Evans was presented with a coaching certificate by the former England player as part of the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme. 

Beth has raised the awareness of disability cricket, having set up several disability clubs in Surrey, and ensures the clubs flourish.

Although Beth achieves so much just by getting all of her kids involved in the session’s one student in particular Ryan Jones is now a member of the Blind England Cricket Club. Beth’s MLD County team achieved a clean sweep of all six county championships a huge achievement when she had a very young squad of players, her unique style and motivation techniques allow her to communicate effectively to all players at all levels.

Following the presentation Evans commented “I have had a brilliant day, really good to show all the hard work that grassroots coaches are putting into the game. I would like to thank Dany Baker and Cricket for Change for helping me achieve all I have done and I hope I can continue to do more with the help of the Sky Sports Coach Education Programme.”

The Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme aims to attract and train coaches at all levels of cricket in England and Wales, from schools cricket to the international game. 

Since the beginning of Sky’s sponsorship in 2006 over 23,000 coaches have gone through the scheme, more than triple the original target.

There have been 10,000 newly qualified coaches in the last 12 months which is 77% up on the first two year and now for every professional cricketer in England and Wales, there are over 100 grass root coaches.