Birmingham loves cricket and Jude Bellingham, and Jude Bellingham loves cricket and Birmingham. So this is a match made in heaven. The Real Madrid and England midfielder has invested in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix, and will shine the spotlight on the 100-ball cricket format.
“I love Birmingham. I’m very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me,” said Jude Bellingham. “I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn’t really think twice about it, so I’m so happy to be on board.
“I’m so grateful to Birmingham, the Stourbridge area and the West Midlands as a whole. I got the best upbringing into football, into life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something. Right now it’s difficult with how busy I am with football, but if there’s a way in which I can help then I want to and this feels like a good way.”
The 22-year-old will take 1.2% of the equity, with Warwickshire County Cricket Club maintaining a majority stake of 50.4% and Knighthead holding 48.4%. His investment will lead him to take a keen interest in community engagement and CSR projects in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.
The 100-ball cricket tournament was one of the biggest shake-ups cricket had seen in years when launched in 2021. Aimed at making it faster and easier to follow, it sees eight competing teams try to reach as many runs as possible from 100 balls. Phoenix start the four-week competition on Friday, July 24, against Trent Rockets.
Jude added: “I think it’s so important to get our kids in the city out there playing sports. I think it’s crucial and the opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realise there’s different avenues. Some people will enjoy football, some people enjoy cricket.
“I want to let kids know, let adults know that there’s opportunities to go and enjoy sports. I was fortunate growing up I had the option of playing cricket and playing football, but some kids don’t have that opportunity. It’s important that if I can get involved in something like this to shine a light on an opportunity for kids, then even better.
“I think the things that you learn from playing cricket, playing football, playing team sports are with you for life. To be able to interact with people, understand people from different backgrounds and also realise you can have a good time with anyone, I think that’s the beauty of sport. It brings people together, especially now more than ever.”
