A GROUP of junior players from Stretton Cricket Club enjoyed a day to remember at Old Trafford as they took to the field during a huge international match.

Twelve lucky players from the club were invited to form a guard of honour for the England and Pakistan players at the start of play on day two of this week’s Test match.

England went on to secure a crushing 330-run victory to level the four-match series at 1-1, but the Stretton players had a memorable day regardless of the result.

After being greeted by Lancashire County Cricket Club’s mascot, Lanky the Giraffe, the chosen players were escorted through the media centre and onto the field, where they managed to meet cricketing greats such as Nasser Hussain, Geoffrey Boycott, Shane Warne and Ramiz Raja as well as the current England and Pakistan squads.

As if that was not a good enough treat, one of the Stretton parents accompanying the group won the prize of a guided tour for two round Old Trafford’s media centre.

She kindly donated the prize to her husband and son, under nines player Joshua Hill, and they went behind the scenes to meet the Sky Sports quartet of Ian Ward, Michael Atherton, Sir Ian Botham and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd to cap off a memorable day.