Leading sport entertainment platform, The Alternative Commentary Collective, has partnered with Rebel Sport and Silver Fern Sport on a charity initiative that will see more than 700 backyard cricket sets donated to Kiwi communities this summer.

The initiative, Pass It Forward, will see bespoke backyard cricket essentials sold in Rebel Sport stores nationwide.

For every set sold in store, one identical set will be donated to the Tania Dalton Foundation to then be distributed to schools and communities in need across the country.

As the deliverer of live, unfiltered cricket commentary that Kiwis know and love, The ACC is synonymous with cricket in New Zealand. Silver Fern Sport, New Zealand’s oldest sports equipment supplier and co-founder of the Pass It Forward programme, is covering the cost of the equipment and has manufactured the special release sets.

The ACC team personally designed them to not only pay homage to one of the biggest Kiwi summer pastimes – backyard cricket, but also as a way to give back during the Christmas period.

The ACC general manager, Mike Lane, said it’s a great way for The ACC to combine its love of sport with Rebel Sport’s powerful retail platform, giving more Kiwis access to sporting equipment.

“The lead up to Christmas is always a challenging time for those who really dislike shopping. We would like to think we have created a range of products that will help alleviate this undue pressure.

“Backyard cricket is a quintessential Kiwi summer game and now when you purchase one of The ACC sets from Rebel Sport, you can be quietly chuffed in the knowledge that another set will be passed forward to a well-deserving family, school or local community.”

“Rebel Sport is committed to making sports kits accessible to as many Kiwis as possible,” said Rebel Sport’s equipment category manager, Hamish MacKenzie.

“Partnering with The ACC and Silver Fern Sport for not only the Pass it Forward cricket initiative but also the backyard cricket range will go a long way in helping us achieve that wide reach.”

Along with these cricket sets, The ACC will continue working alongside Rebel Sport to stock Kiwis with their summer backyard essentials, with other kits including balls, bats, training kits and even the iconic throwback gutter board game.

You can purchase The ACC backyard cricket sets on Rebel Sport’s website or instore.