NTU Student Tom selected as Trophy carrier for Cricket World Cup

The Cricket World Cup is an international championship of one-day cricket. Taking place every four years, the competition is the pinnacle of the sport with the best countries in the world all descending upon England and Wales to be crowned world champions.

As part of the celebrations, World Cup, ‘Community Champions’ have been chosen to present the trophy at various matches across the tournament.

Tom, a final year Accounting and Finance student at NTU, was nominated by Sport Development Officer, Lawrence Uttley, for his outstanding contribution to the University’s Cricket Club.

Several years ago one of the committee members at NTU Cricket, Zac Forskitt sadly passed away due to cancer. Since, Tom and the club has adopted BacZac as their charity. They have put on a number of events and helped raise thousands of pounds in donations to support adolescents living with cancer.

Tom has played a leading role on many of the fundraisers, including a 12-hour cycle at Nottingham Trent City SU and a charity cricket day.

Tom brought in ‘Opening Up CC’ to give a talks to members of the University’s cricket club on mental health, and the importance around talking about the issue. Mental health awareness is something that is very close to his heart, and he is heavily involved with wellbeing week every year.

The student has been determined to carry on his good work outside of Nottingham, so he has taken his club’s mental health initiative to his home town, Mildenhall CC, where ‘Opening Up CC’ will be giving a talk when the season starts.

Tom has also played an active role in the promotion of women’s cricket here at NTU, helping to get their first indoor season and increase participation numbers from 15 to 20. Which will hopefully have a positive effect on the women’s second season.

Tom completing the 12-hour bike ride for BacZac

As well as his contribution to NTU Cricket, Tom has been nominated  in recognition of the brilliant work he has done for mental health awareness both at NTU and in his home town. The student was recognised for his commitment in going above and beyond his normal duties, and during this time he and the team have made a massive contribution to cancer charity, BacZac.

On the honour of Trophy Carrier for the Cricket World Cup, Tom said: “I’m a mixture of excited and nervous! It’s obviously a massive honour to be carrying out the World Cup, especially for an England game in a city which I’ve spent a lot of time for the past four years.

“However, it’s a big responsibility and with it being in front of such a large crowd, I am understandably nervous.

“I’ve enjoyed all of the campaigns through the cricket club this year, particularly our mental health talk with OpeningUpCC and our continued work raising funds for BacZac - His Legacy.

“I would say that the 12-hour bike ride was my personal favourite though. It was an opportunity that brought members from all years and both the men’s and women’s side together, which I particularly liked.

“The closeness of the charity to NTU cricket makes it more special and really helps connect everyone. It was the first time we had thought of doing something like this and was an opportunity to raise more than we had previously done.”

Tom will be the trophy carrier at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between England and Pakistan on Monday 3 June at Trent Bridge cricket ground.