In April, the California Cricket Academy will hold a special program to introduce the game to girls under the age of 15. In addition to learning how to bowl like Shane Warne--a leading "leg-spinner," or bowler, from Australia--girls will also be shown batting and fielding techniques. Larry Gomes, a cricket star from the West Indies, will serve as the coach.

The cricket academy decided to launch the program following the success of its youth program. The program attracted nearly 100 boys and just one girl. "Last summer we got a number of calls about programs for girls," said Kinjal Buch, a co-founder of the cricket academy. "We felt more girls would be encouraged to participate if they weren't part of a large group of boys."

Part of the proceeds from the April program will go to Cupertino Library, which sits next to fields used by the academy. "The library is the city's most important resource and helps the kids," said Mahesh Nihalani, a member of the cricket academy's advisory board.

"It's a good way to pay back the city of Cupertino," Buch said, "especially because they helped us get started."

Although relatively unknown in the United States, cricket is popular internationally. The game, which takes its name from an old French word for a stake or bat, features batters defending a wicket with a bat. Bowlers, or pitchers, attempt to topple the wicket by throwing a hard ball about the same size as a baseball. Players score runs by running between wickets.

"It's followed religiously," Buch said, with women a growing part of its audience.

As a part of that trend, the International Cricket Council is holding the eighth women's world cup in South Africa. In addition to South Africa, Australia, England, India, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies are fielding teams.

"Most women follow it but don't play it," Buch said. The Cricket Academy hopes its April program will help change that.

"Players learn team spirit and discipline for life," Nihalani said.

Girls will have a chance to see for themselves in April. The California Cricket Academy's program runs April 18 to April 20, 9­11 a.m. The three-day program costs $50. For more information, visit www.calcricket.org.