The impact made by South Africa's captain Hansie Cronje during his brief Irish stay last summer is still being felt. To develop Irish cricket, said Cronje, it will be necessary to "put a bat in every baby's hands", a remark which inspired Brenna Clarke, a lecturer in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, who is also secretary of Merrion CC, to act on his advice.

The result is that student teachers at the College are now being introduced to cricket, as part of their PE courses. The initiative has been backed by the Leinster Cricket Union's (LCU) development sub-committee and schoolboy branch and by Des Broderick, head of PE in St Patrick's. Senior coach Vinnie Savino will now teach the game to the PE students.

The aim is to introduce cricket to primary schools, most likely in the form of Kwik Cricket, the popular, fast-moving version of the game. The St Patrick's graduate PE students will play a major role in this drive.

As already announced in its Plan 2000 document, the LCU requires each club to appoint a development officer to promote the game in primary schools in the club's locality. The Union will also announce the appointment of a provincial development officer to help establish the game in schools with no cricket tradition.

"This move is designed to attract the next generation of players," said LCU president David Williams. "We hope that children who learn cricket at primary school will go on to join their local clubs".

The LCU has announced the following appointments at representative levels: Under-13 - Manager: H Tighe; Coach: D Vincent; Selector: J Pryor; Sub-selector: B Kelleher. Under-15 - Manager: G Black; Coach: B O'Rourke; Selector: J Clinton. Under-19 - manager: B A O'Brien; Coach: J Davy; Selector: K Lewis. Development Squad - Manager: E Lewis; Coach: D A Lewis; Selector: F R Synott.