Watch: PM Rishi Sunak joins England cricket team for net session, faces balling challenge by James Anderson

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Sunak eagerly faced Anderson, who recently achieved the milestone of 700 Test wickets. In a lighthearted exchange, Sunak jokingly requested Anderson to take it easy on him, to which the bowler responded with a playful "We'll see." Despite the challenge, Sunak confidently confronted Anderson's deliveries, drawing admiration from spectators, including budding academy players. Reportedly, Sunak expressed his intent to join at the venue while enjoying the training session, stating, "Looks like I'll be hanging around here for the rest of the day.

Just let the office know I'll be back later." Amid the camaraderie, Sunak graciously posed for pictures and autographed memorabilia for attendees. Sharing the video on X, Sunak humorously asked the England cricket team, "Am I ready for the call-up?" prompting a response suggesting a few more net sessions might be beneficial before any such consideration. This event follows Sunak's recent announcement of a £35 million initiative aimed at constructing 16 all-weather domes in cities hosting T20 World Cup matches in 2026 and 2030.

Emphasizing the importance of grassroots cricket, Sunak highlighted that these domes would facilitate year-round participation, benefiting over 900,000 young enthusiasts. "I love cricket, that's no secret. So I'm pleased that today we can support even more young people to get into the game," Sunak stated during his announcement on X, on Friday.