Howzat for a famous pair of fans! England stars Harry Kane and Declan Rice watch Hartlepool Second XI in action at Middlesbrough's training base

England stars Harry Kane and Declan Rice took time out to watch the Hartlepool side in action against Rockliffe Park CC’s first team on Saturday afternoon in the NYSD Division 2 league game after their training session with England had finished.

The England camp have been based at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe training base all week as their preparations for Euro 2020 – which gets underway on Friday evening – ramp up.

The England captain and Tottenham Hotspur star striker was joined by West Ham United’s Rice as they took a stroll to watch the cricketers in action.

The cricket pitch is based within the grounds of the Rockliffe complex and just over the road from where Gareth Southgate’s squad had been taking part in a training session.

England beat Austria 1-0 at the Riverside on Wednesday evening and face Romania, again at the Riverside, on Sunday teatime.

Sadly Kane and Rice couldn’t cheer on a Hartlepool victory as Rockliffe Park – 160-9 – won a narrow contest with Hartlepool Seconds all out for 159.

Kane would have been impressed by fellow captain Peter Rhoden’s knock of 38, while Will Boyd got four wickets.

Skipper Rhoden Jnr told the Mail: “It was great to see the pair of them turn up and watch the game, it’s not often you have a couple of England players watching!

“After they had finished training, their liaison officer came over and said a few of the boys fancy coming to watch for a bit, is that okay?

"Then Harry and Declan came down in a golf buggy.

"As we were walking round they just said ‘alright lads’.

"Harry Kane seemed quite interested, he was asking how many overs we play and what the par score is that teams usually look for. He had a little joke about my team not doing very well at the time – we just lost a few wickets.

"Let’s hope next time they come and watch us play they are European champions!”