'Warnie' lined up to back project

SHANE WARNE is in line to promote the island's new indoor cricket centre, and may even open it. The legendary leg-spinner, who retired from international cricket as the highest wicket-taker ever in Test after Australia's 5-0 Ashes victory over England in January, will, it is hoped, feature on a DVD about the new Hougue du Pommier facility.

The land for the site was signed over to Indoor Cricket Guern-sey in court yesterday.

The project will see the structure built onto the side of the stadium that is currently home to indoor bowls and table tennis.

It is the culmination of a more than a year's work for financial backer Jon Ravenscroft, Alan Hamilton, who will project-manage the construction and the island's cricket development officer, Jason Shambrook, who will manage the centre once it is up and running.

Work starts on the car park in the next week or so and it is hoped that the £1m. centre will be completed by February.

'There's a chance he could be over to open it as well. If not, there will be some other cricket icon.

'I can't wait to see it up and running and to see that site as a proper sporting venue to cater for all the sports down there.'

The centre will also be home to the highly successful Pricewater-houseCoopers School of Excellence for budding young cricketers on the island. But cricket will not be the only sport that will be looked after.

Netball will play their new indoor Super League in the facility while hockey, football and martial arts can also take place there, among other sports. Shambrook is also getting excited about the centre opening.

He thinks that will happen in less than 12 months' time, in February 2008.

'I can't wait, it's a fantastic opportunity not just for cricket but for sport in general,' he said.

'It gives us somewhere where we can base our PWC Centre of Excellence and it also gives us the opportunity to do more coaching on a one on one basis.'

The DVD that Warne could feature in will be sent to companies on the island promoting the centre. The plan is set up a six a-side indoor cricket business league.

There will also be men's, women's, mixed and junior leagues

For the indoor game the ball is softer than a normal one and Shambrook believes that anyone can take the sport up.

'The indoor game is fast paced and fun,' he said.

'It's a variation of the outdoor game. Everyone is involved as everyone has to bat and everyone has to bowl.'

For more information, see the centre's website that goes live today - www.icg.gg.