Mahanama and beach cricket

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Roshan Mahanama, now a cricket commentator with BBC Test Match Special takes on a new role when he helps to introduce hundreds of children to beach cricket.

Mahanama will be part of Channel 4 and the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) innovative beach cricket program at Centenary Square here tomorrow (Saturday).

The event which is part of Channel 4's city cricket initiative takes place on June 1-3 in line with Birmingham's Jubilee Celebrations and the current second Test match between Sri Lanka and England.

The occasion will provide the children to play beach cricket in the centre of the city. The beach is itself made up of 14 tonnes of sand with coconut matting placed as a wicket. Measuring 16 metres by 16 metres there is plenty of room for the children to play eight-a-side matches run by the County Board coaches.

West Indies cricket legend Sir Viv Richards is heading the program.