CRICKETERS of all ages who play for Old Elizabethans can now hone their skills in the club's new two-bay practice nets, thanks to a grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The club, based at the Memorial Ground in Perdiswell, was awarded £16,079 from a nationwide kitty of £9.4 million that has been stumped up by Sport England and the Government for the Community Club Development Programme.

Club secretary Lynne Newall said: "We were delighted when we received the grant because, without the support from the ECB, the project would not have been possible from our own resources.

"We now have greatly improved practice facilities, which have provided more coaching opportunity and, as a result, we have increased participation considerably.

"The club has more than 175 junior members and the new practice pitches offer good, safe playing surfaces which are so important for the development of young cricketers.

"The nets are literally in use every day. We are grateful to the ECB for their generous support and, with our junior coaching programme, we regard the grant as an investment in the future."

Old Elizabethans have men's teams in the Birmingham and Worcestershire leagues.