Gatting joins forces with U19s

6 January 2008

Mike Gatting helps launch NatWest CricketForce 2008 at Kirby Muxloe © Getty Images

The England Under-19 World Cup squad and ECB managing director cricket partnerships Mike Gatting helped launch NatWest CricketForce 2008 at Kirby Muxloe Cricket Club.

The Under-19s offered a helping hand as part of their training programme for next month’s World Cup in Malaysia, with coach Andy Pick seeing it as a beneficial team-building exercise ahead of the tournament.

Kirby Muxloe has been identified as one of the showcase clubs for NatWest CricketForce in 2008, when a large army of volunteers will once again take part in projects to upgrade cricket facilities around the country.

Former England captain Gatting said: “The future of English cricket depends on the development of young cricketers and I am pleased to be able to support the game at grass roots level.

“The club was selected by the England and Wales Cricket Board as a showcase club because they have a strong youth development programme.”

Kirby Muxloe’s main project is to build a new log cabin-style pavilion.