The Grangetown cricket stars hoping to inspire the next generation to pick up a bat

It’s early evening in Grange Gardens, a time and place of tranquility for those unwinding after a long day. If only for a moment, the dominant sounds are birds singing, trees rustling in the breeze and the faint, excited chatter of those using the playground.

Suddenly, the peace is disturbed. First, it's by the unmistakable thud of rubber on plastic and then by a unanimous roar of approval as a tennis ball soars out of the grounds of the newly opened pavilion at one end of the park.

It has been dispatched by Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne, who also happens to be the number one test batsman in the world. However, this is a fact that doesn’t seem to faze the huddle of schoolchildren lining up on the pavilion lawn to try and bowl him out.

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The Ashes winner is there as part of an event held by his new club, Glamorgan, to not only mark the start of their T20 Blast campaign, but to strengthen their relationship with Asian communities across Wales and get more children from areas like Grangetown hooked on cricket.

While Marnus is the headline act at Grange Pavilion, however, those at the event looking for a role model need look no further than two of Grangetown’s own. Prem Sisodiya, a left-arm spinner for Glamorgan, and the club’s new Diversity Champion and Talent Scout, Mojeid ‘Muji’ Ilyas, both grew up in the area before rising through the ranks to join the first-class club.

In Muji’s case, his route into cricket began just yards from where he is standing today. Get the latest news from across Cardiff sent straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletters.

"It all started just over there," he said, pointing out of the pavilion