Young King’s School cricketers are starring for Cheshire in both the boys and girls teams.
Inspired by the success of the world champion English Women’s team, Hannah Gradwell, aged 15, from Poynton is playing for both Cheshire under-15s and under-17s, as well as Poynton and Warrington Women’s cricket clubs.
A free scoring batsman who also keeps wicket for the county, she is a key member of the King’s Under-15 side.
She said: "The fact that I am girl simply isn’t an issue with any of the boys, either in my team or the opposition and everyone is very accepting.
"The King’s side is probably just a little higher standard then the county girls’ team, so it is great practice for my representative cricket."
Gradwell is keen to emulate the heroines of the national side and added: "Everyone is proud of their achievements and the fact that women’s cricket is finally getting some mass media coverage.
"I would really like to be part of their success in the future."
The King’s boys are not to be outdone with Andrew Hodgson and Tom Foreman forming the spine of the county side.
Hodgson (left of picture) is a dominating number three batsman with a superb array of shots, who scored an unbeaten century for the county. Already in the King’s first XI, the 15-year-old also plays for Prestbury and wants to pursue a career as a professional cricketer, with his role model the Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting.
Tom Foreman, 14, from Alderley Edge, is an emerging all-rounder who opens the bowling with nippy swing for the county and is an elegant number six batsman, already registering 50s at county level.
He chose Freddie Flintoff as his favourite star.
King’s coach Steve Moores said: "We have some quality young talent at under-15 level and the first XI should be able to boast an exceptionally strong line-up in a couple of years."
