Notts bowler Stuart Broad took time out from his preparations for the Third npower Test at Trent Bridge to launch ASDA Kwik Cricket 2008 at Thurgarton Cricket Club.

The scheme has increased participation at grassroots level with 23% more teams and 97% more girls taking this year.

Broad, joined at the launch by England’s Ashes-winning women cricketers Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt, is a fitting ambassador for the scheme having taken part as a youngster.

“Kwik Cricket was the first form of the game that I played, and I loved it,” he said.

“It’s so easy to pick up the basic skills of catching, throwing, hitting and running from cricket which makes it a great game for children to play.”

ASDA and the ECB work in partnership to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to children, using the ASDA Kwik Cricket Festivals and England player appearances as an opportunity to discuss healthy eating issues with youngsters.

ASDA Kwik Cricket is now on the curriculum at over 8,000 primary schools which together with over 4,500 ECB affiliated cricket clubs provides an introduction to cricket and with record numbers participating again this year, the initiative is one of the largest primary school programmes in England and Wales.

Thurgarton CC is an ECB Focus Club and was one of the first clubs to benefit from the £30 million investment the ECB has made to cricket clubs and their facilities.