JUNIOR players at a rural cricket club were knocked for six when two international Test match cricketers paid them a visit.

England stars Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones visited Barnard Castle Cricket Club, in County Durham, yesterday to help coach the junior side.

Despite the venue having to be changed to Teesdale Sports Centre due to the wet weather, up to 80 youngsters took part in the coaching sessions.

The players are in the North-East preparing for the second Test against Bangladesh, which begins at the Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street, tomorrow.

Marcus Trescothick said it was the duty of international players like himself to promote junior cricket.

He said: "Although I wouldn't want to say we are idols, without a doubt we do have a certain amount of responsibility.

"We have to push the game up, and these sort of things encourage young people into cricket.

"These are the next generation of cricketers.

"We don't have training until the afternoon so we would only be sat around the hotel."

He also pointed to Barnard Castle under-11 leg-spinner, Richard Watson, from Middleton-in-Teesdale as having a lot of potential.

Barnard Castle was selected by the Durham Cricket Board to host the two England players as it was an England and Wales Cricket Board Focus Club that aimed to increase participation in the local community by linking into schools and promoting excellence.

The club had also built up its junior section from only having about ten members a few years ago to 100 members with 14 qualified coaches.

John Walker, the club's development officer, said: "This means everything for the children.

"It gives them such a lift and such a confidence boost to see two England stars in their community."