There will be local pride at stake when teams take part in the popular Rob George Foundation annual six-a-side Cricket Day at Castle Park tomorrow.

More than a dozen teams from the Shepherd Neame Essex League will compete at the event which is staged to raise money for the charity, which was founded in memory of former Colchester and East Essex cricketer, Rob George.

Rob, who was a popular sportsman, tragically died in December 2013 at the age of 21, following a long battle with leukaemia.

Rob’s former teams Loughborough University and Colchester Royal Grammar School will also be represented at the event, along with hosts Colchester.

The six-a-side format will see each game last for between 30 and 40 minutes and will take place on two pitches at Castle Park, with six teams of first XI standard doing battle on the main pitch.

The Cricket Day, which starts at 10am and is due to finish at around 7pm, will also feature a raffle, cricket book sale, bar and barbeque.

Colchester and East Essex CC chairman Andrew Kennedy said: “It’ll act as a good warm-up ahead of the new season.

“It will be a good chance for the teams to get some cricket action in, especially as they may not have had the chance yet because of the weather.”

Colchester play their first competitive match of the new season, on Sunday.

Their first XI travel to play Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Premier League division one side Saffron Walden, in the first round of the National Knockout Cup.

But they will be without their captain Jake Foley, who has been picked to represent Suffolk at the weekend.

“It will be a depleted side with a mixture of first and second XI players,” added Kennedy.

“Saffron Walden aren’t the force that they were when they won the National Cup in the 1990s but I’m sure they will be a more than adequate proposition for us.

“It’ll be a tough start to the season, because of the unavailability of players.

“We’re not flush with players at the club, in general.

“As is the case most years, our second XI will be a little short until July when the schools finish.”

Colchester play their first Shepherd Neame Essex League division one game of the season on May 12 when they host Hainault and Clayhall, at Castle Park.