Competitive cricket has become a minority interest in state schools, research has found.

Only one in 10 children plays cricket at school, according to a poll of parents. But parents said pupils who played competitive sport gained in confidence, while they felt professional cricketers made far better role models than football stars.

The YouGov research came a week before the first Test match of the summer between England and New Zealand and two weeks ahead of National Cricket Day in schools on May 20.

Nick Gandon, director of the Cricket Foundation, which commissioned the study, said: "The YouGov survey is a reminder of what exactly cricket can uniquely offer, but also how much more needs to be done."

In the poll of nearly 1,000 parents, just 9% said their children received coaching or were part of school cricket teams. More than half - 53% - of parents of state school pupils believed sporting activities had an impact on children's academic work.

And 90% thought playing cricket and other competitive sports boosted children's confidence and helped them develop life-skills such as team-work, discipline and resilience.

But 84% of parents said their child did not receive cricket coaching or play in a school team.

On Tuesday May 20, hundreds of state primary and secondary schools in England and Wales will hold a day of cricket-related activities to mark the third anniversary of Chance to Shine - the campaign to educate school children through competitive cricket.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "This is not a picture we recognise.

"Cricket is now flourishing again in state schools after decades of steady decline - with better funding, organisation and support from the top.

"Almost nine out of 10 schools already offer cricket, more than rugby union and tennis, and it is now consistently among the top five sports most widely available.

"Over 50% of all schools have strong, formal links with cricket clubs. We agree completely that competitive sport gives children lifelong skills.

"That's why the Government is investing £30 million over the next three years at reinvigorating inter-school competition."