Off the back of England’s World Cup winning display against New Zealand just over a week ago, children headed to Dalton CC to take part in the ECB All Stars cricket session which teaches them the basics of the sport.

The sessions aim for children aged five to eight to have fun and be active while also learning skills such as communication and how to respect each other.

It also teaches them how to bat, ball and field which are all necessary aspects for a budding cricketer.

Sam Dudley, an ECB Level 2-qualified coach who helped with the running of the session, spoke about what the All Stars cricket programme provides.

He said: “It is the first stage before kids go into club cricket, we don’t focus on the specific idea of the rules of the sport but more of the fun side.

“With these guys even just a simple batting or bowling drill is enjoyable for them.”

Dudley helps to run the sessions voluntarily and he also spoke on his role in the community, saying: “It is just to promote it, really, and promote the club and sport.

“I am just a volunteer and I am proud of myself for what I have got myself involved with here.”

It is hoped that England’s first-ever World Cup win will provide a real boost for cricket in the country, with the extra exposure it received through Channel 4’s coverage of the final encouraging more youngsters to take up the sport.

On whether he’d thought this would be the case, Dudley said: “It definitely does. I couldn’t believe it myself when I heard about it and I think it will definitely increase the numbers.

“It’s happened in such an informal way and some kids tonight were talking about it as well saying ‘I’m playing my shot like him’ and ‘I’m bowling like him,’ and it is just amazing really.”

All Stars Cricket is an eight-week programme, which is being run by other clubs in the area and also aims to get children and their parents spending time together while doing an activity.

There are over 2,000 centres nationwide, with the the pathways into cricket never looking better and one day, some of these children may follow in the footsteps of Cumbria’s own Ben Stokes.