Cricket stars help #BringWater to people in India so they can defend themselves against COVID-19
Last week there was an unusual sight at the Kia Oval cricket ground. As Surrey Country Cricket players including Hashim Amla, Rory Burns and Morne Morkel practised defending the wicket, they missed more balls than they hit. But this wasn't an ordinary practice - because they were all playing with a bat just a quarter of the size of a normal one, which we had designed especially for them.
Why did we ask them to take on this tricky challenge with ¼ of a bat? Well, because only 1 in 4 households in India have clean water at home, putting them on the back foot when it comes to maintaining good health and hygiene.
Whilst it wasn’t the most successful practice the players have ever experienced, the challenge did highlight just how difficult it is to be effective when you’re at a 75% disadvantage.
See how the cricketers got on with their quarter-length bats:
If you’d like to join our cricket stars in supporting our campaign to bring water to the missing 75% in India, please donate today.
Frequent handwashing with soap is one of the best and simplest ways to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Right now, WaterAid’s COVID-19 projects in India are installing vital handwashing facilities in public areas such as markets, schools and health centres as well as running mass media campaigns to promote the importance of good handwashing and hygiene.
Through the Bring Water campaign, we're also working closely with local governments to help get piped water to all households.
Also supporting the campaign is Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings and Alex Hartley, who also attempted to defend their wicket with the short bat.
Hartley, who plays for the England Women's team, felt strongly about the campaign because “sadly girls and women are particularly affected when communities lack clean water which means they miss out on opportunities and the chance to reach their full potential. I’m proud to be supporting WaterAid's Bring Water campaign to change this."
Join the campaign to bring clean water to the 75% of households in India who can't effectively defend themselves against infectious diseases like COVID-19.
See who else is supporting Bring Water
