The England women’s team are not only ensuring a productive batting and spin bowling camp in Sri Lanka, but Heather Knight and her team-mates are also taking time out to inspire the next generation of youngsters.
Yesterday the team visited the Surrey Village cricket ground, built in Maggona with help from the LV= County Championship Division Two club after the devastation caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
It was here that Knight and her colleagues enjoyed a day of giving tips to local children, having this week beaten Sri Lanka A twice
Knight toldecb.co.uk: “We all went down there. We had a day off after the match, so we went down on the bus.
“There were about 60 kids. Though they spoke very little English, cricket was definitely the language.
“We had 14-year-old girls bowling doosras; they could teach us a thing or two! We always love doing this sort of stuff.
“They asked us who our favourite Sri Lankan players were, and they were telling us who their favourite England players were.
“They absolutely love their cricket out here, trying to copy their heroes like (Ajantha) Mendis and (Lasith) Malinga. They were very enthusiastic.”
