Former England and Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes opens Herefordshire Cricket's new ground (From Hereford Times)

Former England and Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes opens Herefordshire Cricket's new ground

2:40pm Saturday 14th July 2012 in Sport

FORMER England and Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes marked the official opening of Herefordshire Cricket’s new ground by hoisting the first ball into the air.

Around 250 people flocked to Monday’s opening of the new Herefordshire Cricket Centre at Pentland Gardens.

Rhodes, now director of cricket at Worcestershire, faced the first delivery from ex-England Women’s cricketer Laura Newton.

Herefordshire Cricket’s chairman, Gary King, was delighted the rain stayed away.

“We had one of the schoolchildren act as wicketkeeper and a number of others in the slips and outfield, as Steve Rhodes smacked the ball in the air for the youngsters to catch. It was great fun.”

King said there will be lots of developments at the new ground.

“We have scoreboards and sightscreens on order for the ground, the inside of the pavilion has been done, a veranda for the players to sit outside undercover, and we have a meeting room for groups and umpires to use,” he said.

“We are also due to move into our offices anytime soon. We will definitely be there by the end of the month.”

The first matches to take place at Pentland Gardens will be kwikcricket and county matches at under-10 and under-12 levels.