DROITWICH Spa hope to have found a future generation of cricketers after the success of the eight-week All Stars programme.

The England and Wales Cricket Board initiative provides five to eight year olds with a great first experience in cricket and a pathway into the sport at a local level.

More than 50,000 youngsters are being targeted by the ECB nationally to take part over the summer.

Droitwich attracted the biggest uptake in the county and the second highest in the Midlands by welcoming 72 for their sessions.

They provided fun ways of learning core skills such as batting, catching, bowling, fielding and communication.

As a result Worcestershire Rapids invited some of the youngsters to form a guard of honour for tomorrow's T20 clash against Derbyshire Falcons at New Road.

“All Stars has been hugely successful in terms of giving these youngsters their first taste of cricket but also welcoming a new generation of children to our club, their parents and in some cases grandparents and younger siblings too,” said Chris Green, Droitwich’s lead activator for All Stars.

“The fact that 30 of these children are staying with us for the rest of the season to participate in our Friday night junior training sessions is proof they have enjoyed the experience and want to be part of Droitwich which is fantastic news for the club and their future.”