Roses ace holding out hope for grassroots

England's Yasmin Parsons is hoping netball does not take a hit at grassroots level because of the pandemic.

And the Fareham-based Surrey Storm and Vitality Roses star believes the great work of volunteer coaches and top level players throughout the health crisis could prove vital in keeping youngsters motivated to remain in the sport.

Netball was handed a huge boost last week after receiving £4.2m in grant funding from the Government's Sport Winter Survival Package.

That is set to be reinvested at all levels of the game in England from the Superleague right the way down to grassroots level.

Parsons - a former Fareham Fireflys player - remains close to the ground herself, mixing her role as a PE teacher with head of netball responsibilities at Itchen College.

The former Crofton School pupil, below, has been mighty impressed by some of the 'incredible' work volunteer coaches at clubs nationally have been doing to try to keep players interested.

And despite her hectic schedule, Parsons, right, has been doing her bit to keep grassroots interest up by hosting Instagram Q & A sessions, offering online coaching and occasionally providing a helping hand to England team-mate Laura Malcolm through her Maias Netball teaching platform.

Parsons said: 'Every local club that I’ve seen so far and I know nationally it’s happening as well, I’ve been really impressed by the way the coaches - some of these coaches are volunteers - but they’ve been incredible.

'Whether that be providing Zoom sessions for the girls. I work for Laura Malcolm with the Maias netball which is like online coaching so I’ve done a few specialist coaching or team coaching myself.

‘I just think the clubs have done so well to keep the clubs motivated and that’s why I love talking through my Instagram to try to get the girls focused through that as well.

'I really hope the grassroots levels do go back.'

Netball saw a huge increase in participation on the back of England's Commonwealth Games gold medal win in 2018.

Now Parsons is just hoping 'motivation' to keep playing the sport hasn't been lost by some.

The England international said: ‘When we won gold people participating in netball shot up massively. We had so many members join because they were inspired by it and the girls were inspired by it.

'I just hope this lockdown hasn’t lost their motivation. Obviously, where they’re not doing it and not competing, sometimes you can lose motivation.

‘I have been impressed with the local clubs keeping players motivated and players such as myself and other players as well who have set up online coaching sessions and free Instagram sessions and stuff like that to keep the girls motivated.

‘It’ll be great to see the grassroots come back.'

James Vince will be aiming to maintain his spectacular T20 form when Multan Sultans go in search of a first Pakistan Super League victory this afternoon.

The Hampshire skipper has compiled scores of 46, 98 not out, 95, 16 and 84 in his last five T20 innings for the Sydney Sixers and Multan.

After making 10 scores of 80 or more in his first 231 T20 innings, Vince has now added three more during his last four visits to the crease.

His 84 against Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday came off 55 balls and contained nine fours and three sixes.

It enabled Multan to post 193-4 - a losing total as Tom KohlerCadmore’s 53 helped Peshawar win by six wickets with six balls remaining.

It was Multan’s second successive defeat and they now face a Lahore Qalanders team who have won both their opening fixtures.

Vince, below, is due to play for the Ageas Bowl-based Southern Brave in this summer’s Hundred tournament, where Australian Marcus Stoinis will be a teammate.

Stoinis is also currently in form - he whacked his highest T20 international score as Australia were narrowly beaten in a run-fest by New Zealand earlier today.

In 19 previous innings, the Perthborn batsman’s best was just 35.

But he lashed 78 off just 37 balls - with seven fours and five sixes - as the Aussies just failed to chase 220 for victory at Dunedin.

New Zealand posted 219-7 off their 20 overs with opener Martin Guptill belting six fours and eight sixes in his 50-ball 97.

Josh Philippe - player of the tournament in the recent Australian BBL - hit 45 in only his second T20I in reply.

But it was Stoinis, coming in at No 5, who did most to take his side to the brink of an amazing success.

Australia needed 10 off the last two balls but their hopes disappeared when Stoinis was caught off the penultimate delivery from

Tim Southee.

The Kiwis now lead 2-0 in the five-match series.

India and England played out just the seventh two-day Test of the 21st century as the hosts won under lights in Ahmedabad.

A turning wicket caused chaos for batsmen on both sides as England’s first-innings collapse for 112 set the tone. After bowling the hosts out for 145 - Joe Root bagging 5-8 - England were skittled for 81 and ended up losing by 10 wickets.

The last time England had been involved in a two-day Test was against the West Indies at Headingley at 2000.

England won by an innings and 39 runsas the Windies were bowled out for 172. After the hosts replied with 272, Andy Caddick bagged 5-14 as the Windies were 61 all out.