TWENTY four sixth form students from Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) are embarking on a cricket tour of South Africa today.

The students are associates of the Aldridge Cricket Academy (ACA) – a programme giving 16 to 19-year-olds the prospect of developing their cricket skills in conjunction with their academic education.

The tour will consist of the ACA players creating two teams with the academy’s top girls in a preliminary line-up alongside the first team boys.

The teams will play local competition to progress their skills and experience the sport in a different climate, as well as playing on new pitch conditions.

They will also have the chance to share their knowledge and skills through coaching local children.

In order to get the tour off the ground, it needed a fundraising effort, which resulted in students, staff, parents and friends raising about £50,000.

The main fundraising activity was the Gala Dinner at BACA in October which raised more than £19,000 last year.

This was attended by major names from Sussex Cricket, such as Luke Wright.

The meal for the event was prepared by GCSE catering students from BACA, and team members played a significant role welcoming and serving guests.

Other fundraising occasions hosted by students included a Christmas Fete at PACA, car washes at both academies, charity dinners and successful bake sales.

Alexia Walker, ACA director of cricket, is optimistic about this great opportunity for the players.

She said: “The tour will improve their cricket skills as they play against top schools and club sides in a very strong cricketing country.

“The culture they will encounter and the people they will meet will also help them become well rounded and engaged members of today’s global society.”