WELL-known cricketer George Chesterton has been commemorated with a new set of practice nets at Malvern College.

The Shropshire-born Mr Chesterton is a former opening bowler for Worcestershire and Oxford University and a now-retired housemaster and cricket master at the school.

The artificial nets were paid for by a parent who wishes to remain anonymous, but who wanted to mark Mr Chesterton's outstanding contribution to the college and cricket.

Former Worcestershire and England batsman Tom Graveney, who scored over 47,700 first-class runs and won 79 England caps, visited the college for the official opening of the nets, which were installed by his company, Exclusive Leisure.

Mr Chesterton "christened" the nets by bowling at his old colleague, as well as at the college's current cricket captain, Will Gifford.

"If I remember back to 1949 and my first-class debut, the first wicket I took was Tom Graveney's," said Mr Chesterton.

"We're both creaking a bit now but I managed to pitch the ball and he middled it, so we consider that a triumph.

"It was a real pleasure to be so much a part of the cricket here for many years and it's a tremendous honour to have one's contribution to the college's cricket marked in this way now.

"I'm so pleased the cricketers at Malvern will have these super nets to practice in, thanks to the kindness and great generosity of our donor."

Mr Graveney said: "It's good that George's tremendous encouragement and development of so many generations of good young cricketers will continue through these practice nets."

Mr Chesterton is also well known as a long-standing member of Malvern Civic Society, of which he is president.

l George Chesterton (left) gets ready to bowl the first ball in the new nets to college captain Will Gifford, with Tom Graveney keeping wicket.

Picture: Jay Watson. 17152901