The days are getting longer, the sun's out and we find ourselves reaching for the bat, ball and improvised stumps as the uncontrollable urge to start a family game of cricket takes over.

Michael Booth knows the feeling only too well, as father to a pair of sports-mad daughters, but the boundaries of Saturday's game reach far beyond his lawn.

The Booths are taking part in Cricket NSW's Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket, a statewide celebration of community sport as the new season emerges from a winter decimated by lockdown and COVID restrictions.

"It's vitally important for everyone's mental health especially at the moment with how we've been cooped up," Booth said.

"It's a great way for the kids to have some fresh air and meet new families and friends.

"It gets pretty competitive out there," he added. "I don't let them win!

"Both the girls have got a competitive edge to them and neither of them like losing, which I think is sometimes a good thing."

Mackenzie, aged eight, and Matilda, six, already have sporting role models at the top level.

"They both love their cricket and we'll often sit at home and watch women's cricket now, which is something I probably wouldn't have done 10 years ago," Booth said.

"Tilly, with her soccer, is exactly the same.

"She knows who Sam Kerr is and she knows that's what she wants to do when she gets older.

"It's the same with Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy in cricket.

"That would have never come about years ago but I think it's fantastic having those role models for girls to aspire to."

ALSO IN SPORT

Booth has played cricket locally for the last 20 years, going through juniors and starting his senior career at Wodonga.

He spent five years at North Albury, captained and coached Albury for two years before family ties brought him to Belvoir six years ago.

Booth, who captained the Eagles' reserves in last season's finals, is now club secretary and works off-field to support the A-grade side.

"It's been a challenging winter for everyone across NSW and the absence of community sport during this time has left a huge void in our lives," Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said.

"With confirmation that cricket in NSW can return to play at the 80 percent fully vaccinated milestone, the Biggest Game of Backyard Cricket is the perfect opportunity for households across the state to get out in the backyard, driveway or hallway and have some fun as we count down to the start of the new cricket season together."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: