Big guns backing school programme aiming to use cricket to teach maths

A programme aiming to help kids improve their maths skills using cricket has been relaunched in Auckland today.

Cricket Smart is an initiative encouraging curriculum-based learning both indoors and out and is supported by some big guns - like Ross Taylor.

"It's been amazing to see what they've been able to achieve in relating cricket back to schoolwork," he said.

"If they'd had this back in school, I probably would've got As, I think."

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says the initiative is about making school fun and "using cricket as a way to teach kids their maths, reading - various aspects of the curriculum."

About 1400 schools have taken up the programme a year after the Cricket World Cup thrilled Kiwi audiences.