Wasps going in to bat for cricket club

WASPS have revealed their expected line-up for the Twenty20 friendly clash with Bedworth Cricket Club this weekend.

The black-and-golds are swapping the oval ball for a round one at Miners Welfare Park on Sunday at 1.30pm to celebrate the re-opening of Bedworth Cricket Club’s pavilion following a £250,000 refurbishment.

Joining Jimmy Gopperth and Tom Cruse for the preseason challenge is new Wasps signing and England international Kieran Brookes, along with other senior players including Josh Bassett, Craig Hampson, Rob Miller, Will Rowlands and Antonio Harris.

It will also be the first time for Wasps fans to see the club’s new Championship signings in the flesh, with Joe Atkinson, Michael Le Bourgeois, Ben Morris and Billy Searle all pencilled in to play.

The idea for the cricket match came about following discussions between Wasps owner Derek Richardson and Bedworth Cricket Club chairman Ivor Richards.

The new-look pavilion now has four player changing rooms, along with an additional umpire changing room.

A new kitchen and bar has also been installed at the venue. Renovation works came about after the club was successful in obtaining grants amounting to a total of £255,000 from Sport England, Warwickshire County Council, ECB and WREN. The club has also received support from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

Entry to the match is free. The official opening of the pavilion is set to take place at 11.30am before the game gets underway at 1.30pm.