Cricket's purrfect day

Exclusive by Sarah Holt

Atomic Kitten in action

English cricket has found a purrfect way to sex up its stuffy old image - by luring pop band Atomic Kitten to perform at the Twenty20 finals.

The trio will warm up the crowds at Trent Bridge on Saturday and are looking forward to the unusual invitation.

They will perform a number of their hits in between the semi-finals and final in an hour-long musical feast.

Singer Liz McClarnon took time out of the Kittens' hectic schedule to talk to BBC Sport.

I take my camcorder along with me and cheer at totally the wrong times Liz on watching her brother play cricket

And she admitted knowing very little about cricket.

But she said that was the point of the Twenty20 Cup - bringing people who would not normally watch the game to the finals at Trent Bridge.

Liz said: "We've never performed at a cricket final before.

"When we were asked to do it we said yes straight away. It's nice to do something new every day.

"Cricket is normally a bit too long for me but you never know I might get hooked on Twenty20 after Saturday."

News story: Twenty20 reaches climax

And Liz is all for music and sport joining together.

She said: "It's a great way to get people involved.

"There will be those who have come for the cricket and then watch us and there will be others who have come to see us but take in the cricket as well.

"It's going to be cool."

Although not a huge fan of the sport, Liz's younger brother Joe does play cricket for Hale in Cheshire.

And she admitted to embarrassing him when she goes to watch him play.

Wayne Rooney is a great player who has been fantastic for Everton Liz on Wayne Rooney

She said: "I take my camcorder along with me and cheer at totally the wrong times."

But when it comes to football, Liz can hold her own in any discussion - especially about her beloved Everton.

The other girls in the band, Natasha Hamilton and Jenny Frost, are both Liverpool fans.

But they put their football rivalries aside when they are on stage.

Liz said: "I can't wait for the new football season to start.

"Wayne Rooney is a great player who has been fantastic for Everton and brought us a lot of publicity."

Liz revealed the Kittens do not have the time to play much sport these days.

But they do keep fit by dancing on stage.

She added: "Dancing and singing on stage every day or every other day certainly keeps us in shape."