ENGLAND’S T20 World Cup win can help inspire a generation of cricketers in Oxfordshire, says a county coach.

The national side were crowned T20 World Cup champions after a nail-biting five-wicket win over Pakistan.

The victory saw England become the first men’s side to hold one day international and T20 World Cups simultaneously.

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Kieran Smith, community cricket coach at Oxfordshire Cricket, said watching the likes of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler will influence young fans in the county.

He said: “To be able to hold the 50-over and the T20 men’s World Cup titles is historic, and never been done before.

“At the minute, every England shirt has got Stokes on the back, or Buttler on the back of it.

“Hopefully this can just keep pumping numbers up in terms of participation across the county.

“One thing Oxfordshire has going for it, is there’s a massive amount of cricket clubs – wherever you live, there’ll be something nearby.

“There are some fantastic human beings playing for that England men’s team and they’ve inspired me, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t inspire the younger generation as well.

“Whenever cricket’s on the front pages and making headlines, that can only be a good thing for the game.”

Oxfordshire won the NCCA T20 Trophy in May, following on from the NCCA Championship title claimed last September.

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Smith said cricket in Oxfordshire is in a good place for it to grow, and that the county board holds high aims when it comes to the expansion of the sport.

“Our mission as a county board is to make cricket the sport of choice across the county,” said Smith.

“Seeing it far overseas in Australia, watching the national side do it, and then also being able to have it a bit closer to home watching the Oxfordshire side win three-day titles and T20 competitions means that for the young people in Oxfordshire, there’s always something to watch and be inspired by.

“Hopefully we’ll see the repercussions in the numbers participating.

“We have some great people who are genuinely and truly passionate about growing cricket throughout the county.

“Seeing the people that I work with, whatever happens, the sport around here is going to be in very safe hands, helping to grow the game.”

Asked whether the county could develop another top player, such as the former batsman Andrew Strauss, Smith said: “I see lots and lots of talented young people every week, I think the odds are in our favour and we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”