Howzat! Wicket loving youngsters from across the Towns have been spending time at the crease learning about the game.

The two cricket development days, organised by the Howard School Sports Partnership gave 115 children from nine Medway primary and junior schools an insight into England’s favourite summer sport.

The year 3 and 4 pupils chosen by their schools (St Margarets Junior School, Rainham; Bligh Junior; Sherwin Knight Junior; Thames View Junior; Miers Court Primary, St Augustines of Canterbury Primary, Woodlands Primary, Deanwood Primary and Burnt Oak Primary) all received professional tuition, supplied by qualified coaches from Rainham, Sherwood and Kent County Cricket Clubs.

Both sessions put an emphasis on developing skills and giving the children involved a positive experience of the sport.

The Stirling Leisure Centre in Rochester hosted the first day providing a large indoor area for the groups to learn the principles and techniques behind batting, bowling, catching and fielding.

The second day took place at the 44Two Centre in Gillingham.

Every child who took part in the initiative was presented with an Adidas T-shirt donated by the England and Wales Cricket Board plus a selection of Howard School Sports Partnership goodies for their efforts.

Feedback from schools was very positive and the participants were invited to follow up their initial experience by going along to local cricket clubs to train within their junior sides.

David Hitch, Community Sports Club Link Officer within the partnership said: ”I genuinely hope the pupils have been inspired to continue their personal sporting ability at local cricket clubs as we endeavour to enhance the development of youth cricket in the Medway area.

“Our thanks go out to all the Head Teachers and Primary P.E. Co-ordinators from the represented schools for making the days a huge success and, of course, to all of the year 3 and 4 participants who were a credit to themselves and their schools.”