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Touring creates memories that last a lifetime and Smile Group Travel will ensure your trip is never forgotten

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For those fortunate enough to go on a cricket tour, they are unforgettable experiences. But while they can be the trip of a lifetime for the players, and staff, there is so much that happens behind the scenes that creates the perfect cricket tour. 

Smile Group Travel take schools on tour all over the cricketing world, from the Caribbean to India, Sri Lanka to Australia. 

“I founded Smile Group Travel in 2009 while I was living in Barbados where I worked as a coach, ground handler and tour manager,” Graeme Walker, founder of Smile Group Travel, tells The Cricketer. “One key issue for a successful tour is the partner on the ground. They are the person at the coalface and can really enrich a tour experience. Having been a ground handler for countless tours, I know what I’m looking for in our ground partners. Consequently, I genuinely think we’ve been able to identify the best partner in each of our key destinations. The devil is in the detail. 

“Ultimately every sports tour is different. We do a lot of work with the top cricket schools like King’s Taunton, Felsted, Bede’s and Whitgift and they will always want to be challenged. Whatever the standard and objectives of the touring team, it’s our job to make sure those youngsters and coaches get the tour they need,” Walker continues. 

As well as ensuring touring sides get well-matched opposition, Smile remove all organisational stress from the tour leader, meaning they can purely focus on the cricket and the players. 

^{Smile Group Travel organise tours for the top cricket schools and professional counties}

“You want coaches to focus on team performance and not worry about the quality of opposition or even if the opposition will turn up. This focus extends to off the field. Teachers and coaches will naturally keep an eye on player well-being as well as developing tactics and managing injuries. 

“A really good ground handler will take all the weight off of coaches for any other issues. Health and safety is foremost in these responsibilities and there are many other issues to manage such as accommodation, food and travel which sometimes change during the tour. 

“I have even taken players to doctor’s surgeries or to get scans on injuries. One time I had to get a dentist on a Saturday morning when Hampshire’s wicketkeeper had knocked out his tooth during practice!”

This level of organisation doesn’t just happen. It is the result of years perfecting the relationship between ground handlers and those back in the UK. Between them no detail is missed. 

Of course, overseas travel is still uncertain in the current climate but Smile work incredibly closely with their partners to ensure that tours go ahead as planned and they are as memorable experiences as they should be. 

“If I was a in charge of a tour with a bottomless budget, and no travel restrictions, I’d go to Perth in Western Australia. I love it there. I think the approach to cricket is great and there is so much to do in the city and the surrounding areas. 

“We took Whitgift there a couple of years ago, it was a pretty high watermark tour. We organised eight fixtures for them and it was sensational. 

“It ticked all the boxes, the matches were very competitive and there were some notable individual performances. 

^{Smile offer tours across the globe as well as domestically in the UK}

“Sri Lanka is a sensational destination too, it’s so unique and the conditions challenge players in ways they haven’t faced before. South Africa is a bit more familiar in terms of conditions but the challenge is whether you can deal with it! The standard of sport there is still incredibly high, matched by their desire to win although our ground handler always makes sure that the opposition is of a comparable standard. 

“UAE is an option that is increasingly popular especially between October and Easter, largely because the quality of experience for the cost is exceptional. 

“There are some good options in Europe as well, especially in Spain, but if you want a tour that will suit everyone then it would probably be Barbados. It’s a heaven-sent destination. We’ve hosted many county teams over the years and they would all rush back. I’ve taken county sides to other destinations all over the world and all they ask is when they’re going to Barbados next!” 

But to add more options for their clients Smile are focussing on introducing domestic tours, competitions and festivals. 

“From pre-season at Easter and through the school holidays we aim to have a sequence of festivals and tournaments across the age groups for both boys and girls. 

“These will be exciting and innovative events with the competitions enhanced by masterclasses as well as range-hitting and catching competitions. Our ambition is to provide the widest range of high class opportunities to schools and clubs to have the wonderful experience of touring and so, offering UK destinations will help us to achieve that.”

To find out more about your next tour visit www.smilegrouptravel.com or call 01708 948817 or email info@smilegrouptravel.com