NEW CRICKET nets have gone up in East Oxford ahead of the start of the cricket season to help future Freddie Fintoffs and budding Ian Bothams.

The £25,000 practice facilities have been installed by Oxford City Council at Cowley Marsh recreation ground. using money from the development of an ld bus garage site.

Cowley ward councillor Saj Malik said the new facilities were a huge boost for young cricketers.

He said: “We see East Oxford kids playing cricket in the street and in the play areas, so we want to give them the proper environment to develop in.

“We’re providing England and Wales Cricket Board standard equipment and we’re looking for the future Freddie Flintoffs or Ian Bothams, so we can help the England team. They certainly need someone like that.”

The nets were paid for with money from the redevelopment of the former Oxford Bus Company garage, in Reliance Way. The firm moved in 2004 to a new depot in Watlington Road.

The 10-acre Cowley site was turned into housing, business units and student accommodation five years ago, but the council is yet to spend all the money from the developers.

Sajjad Heider, from Ridgefield Road, who used to play cricket for his university in Pakistan, said: “This is definitely a good thing for the area.

“I sometimes play at Cowley Marsh in the evenings and this is great for the young players.”

Other projects supported with money from the Reliance Way development include new benches, bins and trees in the park, while in January, £20,000 was used to extend the park's playground.

This work added a “space net” for climbing, a specialised slide for toddlers, a balance beam, roundabout and a toddler springer.

The cricket facilities will be controlled by city cricket clubs, who will be responsible for locking and unlocking the nets. The nets can be booked by anyone free of charge through the city council.

Mr Malik said the decision to lock the nets area when it is not being used had been taken to prevent vandalism.

He said: "If we left it open, it would be ruined within days.”

To book the nets, call the council on 01865 252692.