Six Chinese cricketers improving steadily in London

Six Chinese cricketers are improving steadily after arriving in London to learn how to inspire schoolchildren in their own country to take up the game, said their coach in England.

Shahidul Alam Ratan, development head coach of UK's Capital Kids Cricket, said, "All the players are improving steadily. It is taking time. I am working little on technique but mainly how to play the game. Working on singles and doubles, playing in soft hand when needed, bowling bit fuller and pitching up, also communications with the team and other players."

Ratan, also a former Bangladesh international wicket keeper and coach to the nation's under 17, under 19 and "A Team" squads, said that the women's players are doing exceptionally well.

"Their club is very impressed," he said.

The six players, all members of the Chinese national team, are invited by Capital Kids Cricket, a charity set up 23 years ago to rescue the teaching of cricket in inner London's thousand state primary and secondary schools.

The players are Zhang Yufei, Sun Lei, Song Yangyang, Wang Jing and two women Zhang Mei and Yu Miao.

They will be training and playing some matches in London for 17 weeks.

"Wang impressed his club with off spin," Ratan said. "I hope he will be playing for the second team soon. Song starts well in batting and getting out quickly, mainly playing across. Yufie getting better in both batting and bowling. He is bowing more fuller length and got a Hat Trick last Sunday league game. He got 4 wickets and all were bowled. Maybe the first chinese player to got a hat-trick in English Club."

He added,"If weather stays good boys will be playing nearly 50 games before they going back to China."