The flow-on effect from this year's Cricket World Cup, new game formats and online registrations have all contributed to a rise in young cricketers playing the game.
Otago Cricket development manager Will Deerness said the region had seen a significant increase in the number of teams registered in junior cricket (year 8 and below) over the last year.
Numbers have risen in all districts but the increase is most noticeable in the areas outside Dunedin, where plenty more youngsters are taking up the game.
All up, there are 34 more junior teams playing the game across Otago, which translates to more 300 young cricketers playing the game.
The Dunedin district, which includes clubs from South Otago, had increased from 60 teams last season to 71 for the upcoming season, Deerness said.
''Numbers are markedly up.''
Otago Country, which takes in the Central Otago and Queenstown lakes area, has the largest growth, a 21-team increase, or 75%.
''Otago Country are at 49 teams, Last year, they had 28 teams.''
The increase was due to a combination of factors, he said.
''Obviously, the Cricket World Cup had a huge impact on attracting people back to the game or attracting new people.
''It was great that we were able to hold on to the interest over the winter.''
The increase in the junior division had also been attributed to the population growth in Queenstown and Wanaka, he said.
Other growth areas for the sport came from introducing formats and programmes which went for a shorter amount of time, he said.
''New Zealand Cricket has introduced Super Cricket, which is short, sharp and all in one place.''
The sport was offering shorter games for juniors, so the players did not have to spend the whole day playing, he said.
Otago Country cricket development officer Willie Miller said the jump in team numbers in his area could also be due to new online registrations.
''They can register online now. You used to just turn up at the first practice. There's never really been a registration process, as such,'' Miller said.
Wanaka and Hawea had one of the biggest increases for junior cricket and went from three teams to 10.
The Upper Clutha area had gone from about 45 children playing to 90, over the span of a year, he said.
North Otago Cricket Association chairman Peter Cameron said his district also had a slight increase from 12 teams participating to 14 teams.
- James Hall
