Papamoa Primary School is bowling into the cricket season with brand new gear after they were awarded $1500 as part of the ANZ Cricket Grant Scheme.

Lead teacher of health, sport and physical education, Hamish Avery, applied for the grant to upgrade the school's out-dated cricket gear.

Ava Stewart, 9, Jazmin Spice, 8, Josh McCaul, 9, and Finn Redmond, 10, in their new-look cricket gear.

Hamish says the gear will be used by the school's all-girls' team Pink Caps, the boys' Beach Blasters team and for whole-class lessons, and will give the young players a taste of what it's like to play with proper gear.

'It gives them a taste of the grown-up version of the game and prepares them more adequately to play at intermediate level and beyond.”

The Pink Caps stepped onto the pitch this year as the only all-female line-up in Western Bay of Plenty's junior cricket grade.

Hamish wants to thank Mike Nitz who plays a massive part in the school's cricket programme.

'He has been awesome. Also, obviously, thanks to ANZ for their support of cricket in our school.”

The ANZ Cricket Grant Scheme, committed to supporting cricket at all levels, is awarding $100,000 in grants this summer to players, clubs, schools, teams and fans who apply for new bats, balls, net repairs or even tickets to a game.