Channel 4 takes cricket back into the community when its weekly Roadshow comes live from Kennington Park on Saturday to witness England fast bowler Alex Tudor officially open London’s first purpose built inner city pitch.

Saturday’s grand opening is the culmination of 18 months’ hard work to set up and establish the Kennington Community Cricket Ground, an innovative multi-partner enterprise designed to promote cricket within Lambeth.

At present the London borough has just one ground within its borders – Surrey’s AMP Oval – so the opening of the KCCG will provide superb facilities for youngsters and club cricketers who previously had to travel outside the area just to play.

It is hoped the success of the KCCG, which has been financed by Channel 4, Lambeth Council, Surrey CCC, The Lord’s Taverners and the United Cricket Association, will set the precedent for more such developments nationwide.

“Cricket really can bring people together,” said Lambeth Councillor Clare Whelan, “and everyone involved should be congratulated for the way they have worked in partnership with the council to make this project a reality.”

Channel 4's David Brook was equally enthusiastic about the project, saying it demonstrated the company’s “overall strategy to rejuvenate the domestic game”.

But the ground opening will form just a part of the weekly programme with other features including a review of the Edgbaston Test, an exclusive interview with Muttiah Muralitharan and an investigation into why so few of our current first-class cricketers emerge from inner-city schools.

The Roadshow talks to someone who has, 21-year-old Surrey batsman Michael Carberry, trying to find out why it’s proving so difficult, while Sybil Ruscoe takes a broader look at the national picture.

Elsewhere on the programme Chairman of Selectors David Graveney will announce the England squad for the 3rd npower Test against Sri Lanka - starting at Old Trafford on Thursday – while Tudor, who will carry out the official ground opening, also lends his expertise to the Roadshow by giving a Masterclass on fast bowling.

And if all that wasn’t enough this week’s Top 4 focuses on fathers and sons who have played the game.

As always, you can have your say by emailing the roadshow team at roadshow@cricket4.com

7 Jun, 2002