Hampshire's go-ahead Cricket Development Office has been chosen to launch a new ECB initiative to attract youngsters to take up the game.

Ten junior schools from the various parts of the county will be coming to the Hampshire Rose Bowl on Monday morning (May 14) for the national launch of a new eight-a-side version of the game.

It's entitled Inter-Cricket and plans to bridge the gap between Kwik Cricket and the traditional hard-ball game.

A fast moving game - ideal for a school playground but which can also be staged indoors - Inter-Cricket is played with a seamed rubberised ball.

Team members bat and bowl, with runs scored when the ball is hit out of the'inner zone'. The batting side forfeits three runs each time a wicket is lost.

"Many schools throughout the country cannot play hard-ball outdoor cricket due to lack of facilities and shortage of equipment," explained Hampshire's CDO, Mark Garaway.

"But this new version of the game, which mirrors the National League, will introduce cricket to a far wider audience."

The school children will wear coloured clothing, bowl with a white ball, enjoy free hits and generally play to National rules.

The event, which runs from 10 o'clock until 4pm, is being sponsored by Norwich Union, whose local Healthcare office is at Eastleigh.

Further information can be obtained from Mark Garaway at 023 8046 5816 or 0468 552618.

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