Old Buckenham Cricket Club have pulled off an early-season coup with a visit from a former England women's captain.

Charlotte Edwards will be visiting the club on Tuesday, May 9 in her role as a 'Chance to Shine Ambassador' to conduct a coaching session with OB's highly successful ladies and girls section.

Edwards retired from international cricket in 2016 after a stellar career with England that included 23 Tests matches, 195 ODIs and 95 Twenty20s.

She has the distinction of winning the Ashes on three occasions as well as World Cups in both 50- and 20-over formats. In 2008 she was named ICC Women's Player of the year and in 2014 was one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year and in the same year was awarded the CBE for services to cricket.

Chance to Shine is a charitable organisation which seeks to promote cricket in primary and junior schools throughout the country and has reached over 2,000,000 children since it began.

Old Buckenham has been involved in this scheme for six years and now visits nine primary, two secondary and one special school in the Attleborough area.

Many young children are now involved in playing cricket in the local area with some now playing in clubs and county youth teams.

Part of the reason for Charlotte's visit is to catch up with three girls – Jade Hoyte, Hanna Free and Rebecca Cole – who were interviewed as year 7s at Attleborough Academy by Chance to Shine about their playing ambitions in 2013 and who have since taken their cricketing skills from the playground to the Norfolk County Ladies team.

Charlotte will be at the Old Buckenham club from 6pm and before that at a local school during the afternoon – all club members and any other cricket enthusiasts are welcome.

Meanwhile, Hales & Loddon Cricket Club is looking for new players for the 2017 season.

'We are a family-friendly and community focused club, running two adult sides and welcome players of all abilities - even newcomers of any age to the game,' said chairman Pete Dye. 'We also run youth sides from four years old upwards and have an All Stars Cricket programme for 5-8 years olds starting in May.'

Email pete.dye@canaries.co.uk or phone 07931711323.