Thousands of Chance to Shine schools are turning their timetables over to cricket this week (2nd-6th June) to celebrate Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week.

Pupils around the country are receiving some special guest visitors as a host of international cricket stars are going back to school to celebrate the week.

The event celebrates Chance to Shine's work keeping cricket alive in schools. The week itself is Asian themed to coincide with the Sri Lankan and Indian tours this summer.

Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week is starting with a bang today (2 June) with Charlotte Edwards and a special guest visiting an Asian extravaganza at Sacred Heart School in Battersea, London. The school is turning itself into a mini India for the day with children cooking curries, Bollywood dance and acting sessions and Indian instruments on hand for the pupils to play.

Tuesday will see Kent captain, Robert Key, join Chance to Shine Coaching Ambassadors Lydia Greenway and Heather Knight down on Brighton seafront for a beach cricket tournament involving local schools. Sussex mascot Sid the Shark will also attend to entertain the children.

An England star will be helping to launch the ECB's India & Sri Lanka Schools Challenge on Wednesday at Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham alongside England women's captain Charlotte Edwards and Jenny Gunn. Local schoolchildren will take part in a cricketing lesson with the England internationals and the school is also setting up a Bollywood dance lesson for the children and players to enjoy.

As part of Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week, Chance to Shine is encouraging all schools to take advantage of the Schools Challenge. The interactive educational resource is for pupils in Key Stage 2 & 3. It includes lesson plans and activities covering a variety of key learning areas, with a focus on improving literacy skills. 

Thursday will see celebrations for the week move north with an all-day cricket tournament held at Kirkham and Wesham Cricket Club near Preston. An England and Lancashire cricketer will join 10 schools that will be competing throughout the day.

On Friday, the week will finish at Headingley Cricket Ground, the home of Yorkshire CCC. The famous ground will be taken over for the day by 20 schools in a mass open day. As part of the day, the children will get the opportunity to play on the pitch itself where they will be joined by England and Yorkshire cricketer Jonny Bairstow.

Talking about the week, Chance to Shine Chief Executive Wasim Khan MBE, said, "It's incredibly exciting to see thousands of schools and clubs once again preparing to play and enjoy a week of cricketing activities during Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week. We hope that the event inspires thousands of children to enjoy and learn from this great game.

National Cricket Day was launched by Chance to Shine in 2008 to help raise awareness of the campaign and to celebrate cricket in schools. This year, thanks to the support of Yorkshire Tea, the event has been broadened out to a week to give as many schools and clubs as possible the opportunity to take part. All schools that have signed up have received their welcome pack including tea samples for teachers and parents.

Since its launch in 2008, England players Ravi Bopara, Katherine Brunt, Alastair Cook, Charlotte Edwards Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Heather Knight, Eoin Morgan, Paul Nixon, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann and Chris Tremlett have all supported the event, through the help of the England and Wales Cricket Board and Professional Cricketers Association.