Cricket

Life's a beach for Arnold

The trip of a lifetime beckons for 28 boys from Blackpool’s Arnold School as they head off for a 10-match cricket tour of the Caribbean. The under-14 and under-15s will both play five matches on the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Union Island. One highlight will be matches at Grenada’s National Stadium, which staged World Cup matches last year. They players can also look forward to a catamaran cruise, a jeep safari and a rainforest hike.

Head of cricket Mark Evans said: “We have been organising the tour for over 12 months. The boys and their parents have raised over £25,000 to make this tour as perfect as possible. It will be fantastic to see the boys take on the best teams on the islands. “They will make many new friends and experience a culture far removed from what they are used. And this pre-season tour will also prepare them for another busy and demanding season.”

Reebok have also backed the tour, providing £5,000 worth of kit and equipment, while tour kit has also been provided by Kukri, who kitted out Ireland in the World Cup.

A STROKE of luck has bowled over boys at Blackpool Cricket Club.

Innovative practice equipment proved a big hit with the under-10 and under-11 batsmen when it was introduced at their indoor nets. Designer David Cooper, a Yorkshire teacher, brought it along for a session at the Playfootball centre in Garstang Road after being invited by Blackpool’s new coaching director Mike Moore.

Cooper’s innovation, adopted in several countries, is a mat dotted with holes into which are placed poles with balls on the end to simulate deliveries pitching on various lengths. “I first came across David at a coaching coaching session in East Lancashire last winter and was very impressed. This mat works wonders,” said Moore. “It simplifies the coaching of the full range of shots and the results at our nets were staggering. In a short space of time, every one of the boys present had improved.”

- Junior registration at Fleetwood CC is on April 16 and 23, from 7pm, with outdoor nets for the youngsters starting on the 30th (6.30pm).