Bolton musician Robin Hill plays cricket bat guitar at World Cup

Robin Hill, of Heaton, can now say he has played on the same stage as a host of famous rock gods but with the difference that he is playing riffs on a cricket bat for the crowds. 

Mr Hill was asked to lend his musical talents to entertain cricket fans at the ICC Cricket World Cup this month, getting up to play classic rock riffs by Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and more, every time a player scores a wicket.

Mr Hill got the call around three months ago and he could not turn the opportunity down.

He said: “My agent called me and their first question was ‘do you like cricket?’

“I just couldn’t say no, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Mr Hill is playing all the matches at Old Trafford Cricket Ground and at the Yorkshire Cricket Ground in Headingley.

He is performing exclusively on the guitar made out of a cricket bat, playing famous tunes including All Along the Watchtower, Sweet Child of Mine and Thunderstruck. 

The guitar was specially crafted for the matches and is hooked up to a sound system so Mr Hill’s performances are loud and clear through the speakers.

He said: “This is one of the more interesting gigs I have played to say the least.

“I did not actually get to play the guitar or try it out until the day before the first performance.”

At first, the guitarist was a little nervous but says he is now into the swing of things — even getting praise all the way from India from fans who have watched him on TV.

He said: “I’m really getting into it now. I was a bit out of my comfort zone at first but now I’m improvising a little more.”

Mr Hill has performed with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Lesley Garrett, Russell Watson and Deep Purple during a lifelong career in music.

He added: “I am mainly known for my classical work but I love rock music, so this is right up my street.”

Mr Hill’s next performance will be at the West Indies against India match on Thursday.