Arena aims at cricket stars of the future

The proposal is to build an Urban Cricket centre in Burngreave's Abbeyfield Park, with funding coming from Yorkshire, the England Cricket Board, the city council and npower.

The facility will be installed on top of old tennis courts in the park, and the aim is to get more children and young people playing cricket.

Craig will be at a drop-in session to be held between 5pm and 8pm at Abbeyfield House in the park and residents are being invited to come and have their say.

Coun Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for transport and Streetscene, said: "We want as many people as possible in the area to have their say on what will be a huge asset to the area.

"The scheme has been rolled out into other areas of the UK to great success.

"We are very fortunate that here in Sheffield the Urban Cricket programme is being developed."

The npower Urban Cricket scheme was launched last year by Monty Panesar and Kevin Pietersen with roadshows across the country, during which over 40,000 Urban Cricket kits were handed out to kids.

In 2007, the focus for Urban Cricket has shifted to the development of five arenas - which will help children with an interest in cricket develop their game.

In addition, five school playgrounds around each facility will be turned into Urban Cricket zones, where kids can practise basic cricket skills before progressing to the arenas.

The arena in Burngreave follows successful projects in areas such as Lambeth, London.