A new spin for girls’ cricket - Live Your Dream

After years coaching boys’ teams at East Coast Bays Cricket Club in Auckland, Komatsu’s Mark Johnson decided it was time to support girls’ cricket, sparking a project that’s already inspired hundreds of new players.

Through Komatsu’s Live Your Dream program, which gives employees the chance to support a community project they’re passionate about, Mark set out to create new opportunities for primary-aged girls to experience cricket in a fun, inclusive way at his local club.

“I played cricket at East Coast Bays myself, then my son started playing when he was six. I’ve coached his teams, been a convenor for his year groups for 12 years and I’m now on the board. Cricket has given a lot to our family, so this was a way to give something back and encourage more young girls to take up the sport.”

After Mark received his $10,000 Live your Dream grant, he and the club spent September visiting local primary schools, running fun drills and games to introduce the sport to hundreds of girls. “We wanted to make it light and enjoyable and give girls a chance to pick up a bat without any pressure,” he says.

Interest quickly built toward a Girls’ Smash Festival held in October. The one-day event was designed to celebrate participation. The T20 World Cup Trophy, won by the New Zealand White Ferns women’s team in 2024, was on display for photos, while representative players and the Rangitoto College girls’ 1st XI attended to coach and support teams. Every participant received prizes and a goodie bag featuring Komatsu gear.

“It was amazing seeing how excited the girls were. We had this huge community turnout - parents, grandparents, teachers, friends - it felt like a proper celebration.”

The club also unveiled the Komatsu Cup, awarded to one school at the festival and set to become an annual tradition.

“The impact has already been felt. We had more than 100 girls play in the festival and now four new girls’ teams have since registered for the summer season. These events will have long-term benefits. More girls are getting involved, and that’s exactly what we hoped to achieve,” Mark says.

“Seeing everyone come together for the festival really reinforced how important these opportunities are. It was a brilliant day.”