Tauranga cricket fans bowl over mayor

Kale Wellington 6yrs gets ready to bowl to Mayor Stuart Crosby. Photo/John Borren.

The chance to bowl out Mayor Stuart Crosby too tempting for a crowd of local fans down on The Strand today when the ICC Cricket World Cup roadshow came to town.

Tauranga's waterfront was transformed into a cricketing haven with practice nets, and a steady stream of visitors keen to have their photograph taken with the World Cup Trophy, tour the interactive exhibition, and met former Blackcap Chris Harris - one of the tournament ambassadors.

Mr Harris told the Bay of Plenty Times with less than 100 days until the tournament starts, now was the time for the public, cricket fans or not, to get behind the event.

"Excitement is steadily building and it's really great to be able to help create some hype around the tournament. I've met some amazing people while touring the country including some talented local players in Tauranga today, and hopefully the roadside will help to create lots of new fans."