ASHES hero Matthew Hoggard MBE, captain of Leicestershire County Cricket Club, has sponsored the cricket kit for Malvern College’s December tour to South Africa.

The college is delighted to be taking 16 of their best cricketers, aged between 15 and 18, on the trip-of-a-lifetime tour where they will play eight matches in Cape Town and Hermanus against local schools, colleges and universities, including a Twenty20 tournament.

Hoggard, who is part of the International Sports Kitz (ISKITZ) management team, is launching a new range of quality but affordable cricket equipment in the spring of 2013 as part of the company’s bid to make cricket more accessible to children. On his recent visit to Malvern College, the former England seamer showcased his bowling, which was a big part of the epic 2005 Ashes win, to the young batsmen.

Hoggard joined Lee Smith and Keren Milton, fellow partners in Sports Kitz, to wish Malvern College every success on their forthcoming South African tour.