Cricket: County players happy to spread cricketing message across the region

Jan 28 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE ECB’s announcement that increased numbers of children of both sexes are taking up cricket would have come as little surprise to anyone who attended the Old Xaverians nets.

Budding Bothams, Flintoffs and Andersons turned up in good numbers at the St Margaret’s Cricket Centre in Aigburth and had been organised into manageable groups by the unquenchably enthusiastic Dave Reynolds long before Lancashire’s Luke Sutton and Simon Marshall arrived.

The visit was one of a number the Old Trafford cricketers have undertaken this winter as they seek to promote the game in all parts of the county.

All of Lancashire’s staff have agreed to take at least one session and most are keen to fit in as many as possible.

“I love it,” said Sutton at the end of an intense session of catching practice.

“I’ve always really enjoyed coaching, and my business, Activate Sport, runs sports activity and adventure camps.”

Marshall offered encouragement and some sound advice to the youngsters who were practising their bowling and he was soon running his own game of non-stop cricket.

The Old Xaverians colts had no time to be star-struck – there was just too much hard work to do.