A YOUNG teacher from Snape is hoping that he will score 100 not out in spreading the message of cricket in Taiwan.

Mr Andrew Carrick left Britain to teach English in Taiwan nine years ago but his love of cricket brought him home for holidays so that he could play for Thorp Perrow, where he was captain before leaving for his overseas post.

He always wondered how well the game would go down in Taiwan, however, and at the end of a visit home last year he took back portable wickets, helmets and gloves with the hope of at least a practice.

When he returned to Taiwan he found that the country made cork matting, which forms a good, safe base over hard ground. He also discovered that there were teams of Sri Lankans and Indians in Taipei - but no British players.

Undaunted, he has now formed a team consisting of British and Australian players in Kaohsiung. It plays and practises in a large baseball stadium in Pintung and has had several games with the Taipei teams.

Mr Carrick's mother, Mrs Irene Carrick, said: "The teams have been given publicity in local newspapers. They have had several local onlookers who seem interested in the sport. Maybe they will be able to form a Taiwanese team in the future."

l Andrew is pictured (front row, second right) with his Taiwan teammates