ONCE the preserve of their wives and girlfriends, in the 21st century cricketers have been stumped for ideas when it comes to the traditional cricket tea.

But not any more…

After years of putting up with poor teas, Bournemouth-based “cricket widow” Naomi Callaghan aims to bowl more than one maiden over with her new business venture.

Based at Bournemouth’s historic Dean Park cricket ground, Boundary Teas offers high quality cricket teas delivered to the county, town, school, village and pub cricket fields of Dorset and Hampshire.

“Couples are busy, they don’t go to cricket in the way they used to and in the last few years cricket teas have become hit or miss affairs,” says mum-of-two Naomi. “Some of them are excellent, the home-made highlight of the day, but others are not so good.

“It all came to a head for me last summer when we went to watch my husband play one match and someone was sent to the garage with 20 quid to buy sausage rolls and crisps!

“It was hideous – none of the lads liked it and the rest of us that had come along to support were really unhappy. If you get the tea right then the whole family can come along on a weekend afternoon and it becomes a picnic in the park. Lovely.”

Boundary Teas has a selection of tea menus that include rolls and sandwiches, ploughman’s platters, pasta salads, bakes and pies, cakes, scones and biscuits. Every meal includes a vegetarian option.

“I grew up around cricket – my dad held a Hampshire fast bowling record for Mudeford – so I know the importance of a good tea,” says Naomi. “It’s not all sarnies and scones though, we’ve been working with the Dorset County Cricket nutritionist to come up with healthy options such as wholefoods with slow release carbs.

“Also, girls’ cricket is growing all the time – my daughter Tilly plays for the county – so we tailor teas for the ladies as well. They’re not so keen on heavy sandwiches, but prefer salads, finger foods and crudités with a dip.”

Boundary Teas will be fielding their wares next weekend (May 1-4) at the inaugural Festival of Cricket at Dean Park. It gets underway next Friday (MAY1) with the Mayor’s XI taking on Dorset Ladies at 6pm, then continues on Saturday from 1pm when Parley CC meet Wimborne & Colehill CC; while on Sunday Dorset CCC play reigning champions Devon in a 50-over match from 11am.

The festival culminates on Bank Holiday Monday from 2.30pm when Hampshire bring a full-strength T20 side to meet Dorset in the first match of Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams’ benefit year.

For more information visit boundaryteas.co.uk. For more information on the Festival of Cricket call 01202 881349 www.dorsetcricketboard.co.uk