Youngsters were bowled over when a cricketing star joined in their games at Hackney Marshes.
England cricketer Ravi Bopara was in Hackney to help celebrate a multimillion pound improvement plan for sports facilities in the area.
A new pavilion, which will be located on North Marsh, is due to be completed by 2013. It will facilitate cricketers playing on the three new turf cricket pitches and seven seasonal pitches – and will also provide changing rooms and catering facilities for the footballers using North Marsh.
Ravi Bopara said he hopes the new cricket facilities will see a boost in participation in East London. He played the game with the children and signed his autograph on some of their cricket whites during the event on Thursday, July 21.
The England and Wales Cricket Board, one of Hackney Council’s partners at Hackney Marshes, provided a grant of �770,000 to help the council bring cricket back to the Marshes.
Other improvements to Hackney Marshes, such as new bridges, footpaths, cycle ways, and community facilities, are set to be implemented before the Olympics and Paralympics Games next year.
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