ENGLAND legend Mike Gatting backed The Hundred to help generate new interest in English cricket among future generations.

Gatting, 65, was special guest at Portland Red Triangle’s centenary celebration evening, where he regaled fans with several stories across his career.

The former Middlesex maestro went into detail about England’s controversial tour of Pakistan in 1987, being on the wrong end of Shane Warne’s ball of the century and gave his views on The Hundred.

He voiced his concerns over young cricketers adapting an overly aggressive style of batting, influenced by The Hundred, in a Q&A session with the audience at Portland Arts Centre.

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However, he also recognised the unique competition's merits and feels it will grow the English game.

His comments come after many clubs in Dorset have struggled with availability this summer, even at first-team level.

Speaking to Echosport regarding The Hundred, the final of which is played this evening (6.30pm), he said: “I hope it gets people in to watch it.

“Whether they play or not is another thing but I can only imagine it will help.

“It’s well publicised, it’s different and it’s for the young. Even the scoreboard, you ask some of the oldies about the scoreboard and they say they can’t understand it.

“Whereas, the kids know exactly what’s going on and there’s all the online stuff on the apps, which is a young person’s area of expertise.

“I hope it does make the game a bit more relevant and available. Also, when you think you need umpires, scorers, players – it’s not just about playing, it’s about all these things clubs need.”

Gatting also told a humorous tale involving two classmates on a school trip to Poole some 50 years ago, in which the pair where allegedly said to have shoplifted.

He said: “It was a geography trip, all our class came down. It was lovely, it’s got to be 50 years ago.

“Imagine what it was like 50 years ago in Poole! We were there, wondering around, and we had little sheets to fill out.

“Sadly, one or two of our class decided they wanted a couple of souvenirs – it wasn’t good!

“But it was a lovely part of the world and in those days it wasn’t quite so crowded. It was a wonderful place, lots of open space and sea air. Wonderful scenery and very nice people, too.”

Gatting was complimentary about Portland, who play on their Reforne pitch a stone’s throw from the Arts Centre.

He said: “It’s a lovely thing. This is the great thing about cricket clubs like this. It’s not necessarily one of the biggest, but you can see it has a function.

“It keeps people happy, it helps with the community, it’s a place for kids to come and it keeps them off the streets, playing in teams and making new friends.

“I just think it’s fantastic.”

Gatting finished by offering his view on England’s current Test series with South Africa, locked at 1-1 ahead of the final Test at The Oval on Thursday.

He said: “The last game is going to be fascinating. It’s probably going to be a very good wicket, possibly turn a bit.

“There will be a bit of bounce there for the quicker bowlers and we’re going to have to play well.

“We have the players to play well and it’s the third one, so the pace of (Anrich) Nortje, (Lungi) Ngidi and also (Kagiso) Rabada, they’ll have seen them now so it won’t be such a surprise.

“The more you play, the more familiar you get with their bowling and what they’re capable of.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting and tight.”