Beefy Botham and Boris Johnson bat for young Londoners

Within minutes of Sir Ian Botham arriving at Boris Johnson’s office, the duo embarked on a game of cricket — improvising with an orange for a ball.

But their meeting wasn’t all play, as tonight’s launch of an urban cricket scheme for disadvantaged young Londoners will reveal.

The Mayor has agreed to provide the charity London Youth with 50 kits for Cage Cricket, a fast-paced version of the sport where six people play in an area the size of a basketball court. It is aimed at ending the idea of cricket being exclusively for the wealthy by making it possible in deprived urban areas.

The 50 kits will kick-start this drive, giving thousands of children across the capital the chance to get into Cage Cricket, taught by 300 specially trained youth workers.

Sir Ian, nicknamed Beefy, said: “Cage Cricket is fast, cheap and can be played in city centres but, most important, it can help dispossessed young people build their confidence and engage with others.” Players hit the ball against the sides of a cage, there is no umpire, and fielders call decisions.

Mr Johnson said he was “thrilled” to be supporting the project.