EXPANSION plans are on the cards at a Huddersfield cricket club as the sport looks forward to an Ashes-inspired boom.

Thongsbridge Cricket Club wants to build three new practice cages to help accommodate the burgeoning number of young players wanting to play.

Chairman Alan Moore said: “We have got a thriving junior section of about 100 youngsters, plus the two senior teams.

“Our facilities are used by Holmfirth High School and the ground is in continual use every day of the week, which creates real problems for practice.

“Having three practice lanes is quite unusual – usually you can expect to have one or two. It will be a big boost.”

The club intends to lease land from Kirklees Council on the adjacent Thongsbridge Recreation Ground, off Miry Lane, for the three practice lanes.

They will cost up to £50,000 to install, partly funded by grant money.

Each lane will be made to specification and to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) standard and will accommodate five players at a time.

One will have a surface that replicates the natural bounce of a standard pitch and will be affected by weather conditions.

The other two will provide a more even bounce aimed to give junior players the chance to practice.

The club hopes to have the nets installed for the start of the season in April. Mr Moore said grassroots cricket would enjoy a massive lift as a result of England’s 3-1 series win over Australia in the Ashes.

He said: “The first time we beat Australia back in 2005 there was a huge increase in the awareness of cricket.

“We have kids coming down from the age of about six or seven, playing quick cricket with a soft ball.

“At the moment eight of our first team came through the juniors.

“The Ashes acts as a spark, a catalyst for the game, creating that much more interest. With the England football team not doing too well at the moment, there’s a lot more focus on cricket.”

ALASTAIR COOK, man-of-the-series in England’s Ashes victory has been given the Freedom of the City of London.

Cook said: “I am greatly honoured and privileged to be given the Freedom of London for doing something I love... beating the Aussies.”