Schools row mars Ashes celebrations

English cricket chiefs have been accused of discriminating against state school pupils in favour of youngsters from private schools during the Ashes celebrations.

Governors from St Joseph's school in Maida Vale have written a letter of complaint to the ECB over the handling of an invitation for pupils to meet the England side last Tuesday.

They claim the visit to Lord's was cancelled on the basis it was a media-only event - only to see television pictures of dozens of schoolchildren from private schools meeting the Ashes victors.

The ECB insist there was no discrimination at all and that the England team's hectic schedule on the day meant there was no proper opportunity to meet the St Joseph's pupils, while those who were at Lord's were young players who had played in the quick-cricket programme at the Oval. The letter from the governors of St Joseph's, London schools cricket champions, says:

"We would like to express our great disappointment at the way our children have been let down. The ECB (and Prime Minister) have expressed a desire to see cricket reintroduced into state schools. The handling of this event has done little to further that cause." An ECB spokesman said: "There was absolutely no discrimination at all and we are sorry if the school has got the wrong impression.

"Unfortunately we were not able to invite as many children as we had initially hoped to do because if there had been 300 at Lord's there would have been no meaningful time for them to spend with the players or to have an autograph session.

"We are looking to ensure that they are invited to one of the Sri Lanka Tests next year."