By DAVE SWANTON

One success story in cricket is the launch of the Indoor Nets, ‘Wickets’ in Cheetham Hill Manchester. Based on the hill overlooking the city which is less than 5 minutes away, partners Sam Holden and Harry King decided late last year to open a facility.

Their vision and bravery with investment was rewarded when ‘Wickets’ welcomed their first customers through the door on 3rd January. Since then they have welcomed over 350 cricketers, all keen to get some practice before the season starts in April. Most of those 350 players have become regulars and they mainly belong to 25 different clubs in the area.

‘Wickets’ is just off the A56 (literally) at Cheetwood Community Primary School, Waterloo Road, Cheetham Hill,M8 8EJ. It’s one of the very few venues that when you follow your sat nav takes you literally to the front gates. The car parking area is well lit and the facility itself is spotlessly clean and well lit. Players of both red ball disciplines have been booking sessions and have been referring it to their friends.

The brand new Bola Machines launch the balls and once a bucket of balls is discharged the balls are collected and reloaded. £20 for an hour means that batsmen can expect to receive about 120 balls in an hour……when was the last time you batted for 20 overs?

Sam and Harry have appointed a qualified coach who is getting busier all the time. Sam said, “We are delighted with the take up so far and are looking to host half term cricket classes for children going forward as well as offering big name coaches for both disciplines of the game (red and white ball) for men, women, boys and girls.

Sam juggles running the centre with his day time job as the owner of Astro Pitches Limited who install and maintain 3g Astroturf pitches throughout the North West.

Sam has also been having the occasional net himself and after an eight year absence from playing is ready to pull on his whites again this summer.

Have a look at the Wickets website