AFTER an enforced two year break the world famous King’s Cricket Festivals in Taunton will be returning this summer, with a new man in charge- former Somerset player Keith Parsons.

The 2022 King’s Festival starts in the middle of July and runs for five weeks during which time there will be 68 teams, involving almost 1000 young cricketers between the ages of 10 and 14 from all over England and across the world, taking part.

Parsons said: “It’s huge challenge for me but I am really looking forward to it. It’s a lot of work to set up but by now most of the teams have confirmed that they are coming so we are all set for the 2022 King’s Festival.

“Malcolm Broad who first established it in 1983 has done brilliantly over the years and along with Dennis Breakwell the festival has gained a huge reputation, but now its all going to be run in-house by King’s.

“It’s an exciting time - there is a lot of work still to be undertaken but we are all looking forward to it and hopefully the sun shines and we can play cricket every day!’

King’s College has got six pitches and during each week of the festival there will be 12 teams on site. Teams arrive on Sunday afternoon and leave Friday so on each day there will be six matches taking place.

“My role is to co-ordinate the whole event, whether it is the on field cricket matters or off the field catering, accommodation and entertainment for all our players. An exciting new feature will be a marquee village with numerous sponsorship / advertising opportunities for businesses to support the event either in person, online or via some of the matches being live streamed during the event.”

In addition to running the King’s Festivals the former Somerset all rounder does a lot of coaching across all of the teams at Kings College plus working with the younger players at King’s Hall.

“It was great to get the opportunity to come and join King’s back in February. There are some really talented young cricketers both boys and girls and my job is to try to give them all the tools they need are to help them enjoy their cricket to the best of their ability- whether thats at club cricket level or going onto play first class cricket.”