(posted 7988 days ago)Stars line-up for cricket ground opening
Jun 11 2002By Michael Brown, South London Press
THE line-up reads more like an international fixture, rather than a knock-around for the opening of Lambeth's second ever cricket ground.
Former England captain Michael Atherton, former Australian international Michael Slater, former England players Dermot Reeve and Gladstone Small, former South African great Barry Richards and TV cricket presenter Mark Nicholas.
They all gathered for the official opening of the Kennington Community Cricket Ground, the first of its kind in London - even the Channel 4 Cricket Road-show was there bringing live coverage.
Lambeth council, Surrey CCC, Channel 4, The Lord's Taverners and the United Cricket Association had got together to help build the ground in the hope of bringing cricket into the community and developing the game at grass roots level.
After 18 months of piecing it all together, and £100,000 later, 150 local children were there to get expert tips from all 24 Surrey first team players including Mark Ramprakash, Alex Tudor and Ali Brown.
Ed Giddins and Tudor were on hand to oversee games of Kwik Cricket for juniors, and also to pass on some handy tips. Surrey's overseas player Saqlain Mushtaq also held a coaching session for spin bowlers showing a number of promising bowlers all his bowling variations, while Surrey coach Keith Medlycott held a batting session.
On Saturday the best 22 academy players were chosen to play the first game on the new pitch, while on Sunday it was a who's who of English and over-seas cricket with a celebrity game.
Slater, who has played 74 tests for Australia and who boasts a test batting average of 42.83, was stunned to see a bold stroke off the second ball of the match spectacularly caught by a Lambeth academy teenager.
He went over to the youngster, shook his hand and walked back to the pavilion shaking his head.
Despite the inclement weather over the weekend, the games were played throughout the rain and it was deemed a huge success.
Tudor, who was in the official opening party, said: "It was great to see so many kids playing cricket and having such a good time."
Coaching sessions for juniors will be held three times a week starting today, on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4pm-6pm) and Saturday's (10.20am-12.30pm). All equipment will be provided and children need a consent form signed by their parents. For more information phone Lambeth Sports on 020 7926 0754.