The sound of leather and willow, polite applause and the clink of china at tea are summer's soundtrack in many a Norfolk village.

Now Stephen Fry - a big cricket fan - has launched a hunt for the game's grassroots heroes.

Mr Fry, who is president of the MCC, which owns Lords, is backing its Community Cricket Heroes campaign.

The distinguished club, which oversees the rules of the game, and the Cricketer magazine are inviting nominations for individuals who have made an outstanding contribution.

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A team of 11 MCC Community Cricket Heroes will be chosen from the nominations by a special panel including Mr Fry and former England internationals and MCC Members, Mike Gatting and Claire Taylor.

The winners will be invited to Lord’s as special guests of the MCC President to watch a day’s play of the England v Ireland Men’s Test match from the prestigious President’s Suite.

The panel will be looking for entrants who work hard to make a demonstrable positive difference to their community through grassroots cricket, from volunteers who go above and beyond for their cricket club and community, to coaches who are inspiring people on and off the pitch or players who have overcome adversity to play or help the game.

Mr Fry said: “MCC’s Community Cricket Heroes is a celebration of all that is wonderful about our game and the thousands of people across the country that make cricket what it is.

"These are the unsung heroes who epitomise the great things about cricket and the values of MCC. It’s a great opportunity to recognise them and to celebrate their invaluable contribution to the game.”

Chair of MCC cricket committee and former England international Claire Taylor, added: “As I know from personal experience, it takes more than the team on the pitch to make our great game happen."

To nominate your MCC Community Cricket Hero visit www.lords.org/heroes before midnight on April 27.