Ahead of Friday night’s crucial NatWest T20 Blast match away to Lancashire Lightning, Birmingham Bears received support from NFL team Chicago Bears.

Having recently returned to pre-season training, Chicago Bears stars Kieron Duncan, Roy Robertson-Harris, Daniel Braverman and Kevin Peterson donned Birmingham Bears shirts and caps to try their hand at cricket at the club’s Halas Hall training complex in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Ian Bell, Captain of Birmingham Bears, said: “Chicago Bears are one of the biggest clubs in sports in the world and it’s fantastic to have the support of its players and fans as we approach Friday’s deciding group game in the NatWest T20 Blast.

“Many of the Birmingham Bears players are NFL fans and are chuffed about the opportunity to link up with Chicago Bears and build on the twinned city relationship between Birmingham and Chicago.”

Birmingham Bears take on Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 29 July and a win will secure a place in the quarter finals of the NatWest T20 Blast.