POLICE are hunting thieves who stole nearly £2,000 worth of cricket gear from one of the sport’s rising international stars at the Ageas Bowl.

A sports bag containing £1,700 of equipment was taken from the Hampshire ground’s reception area during a match.

Now police are appealing for anyone who saw the theft or recognises the bag belonging to Australian  U21 player James Bazley to contact them.

Mr Bazley is based at the Ageas Bowl through its Elite International Cricket Academy.

The Kookaburra branded bag – which has the star’s name on it – contains five cricket bats, two sets of spikes, four sets of gloves, one set of pads, thigh pads and a helmet.

The kit’s total value is around $3,500 Australian.

Officers have established that the bag was first taken to a nearby storage bin area and then once the crowd at the ground had died down, wheeled away from the ground along the main road and possibly onto Botley Road.

Police are obtaining CCTV and are hunting for two men.

One is white, around 35 years old, 5ft 7ins tall, of stocky build with short black hair.

He wore dark blue jeans, navy bomber jackets and a dark baseball cap.

The second is white, in his late 30s, 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build with a bald head.

He wore jeans, a white top and was carrying a bag.

Anyone who witnessed the theft at 8.30pm on Tuesday, August 4, should contact police on 101 quoting reference 44150269927 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.