SOME of cricket’s biggest names have endorsed a former Bradford ace’s “game changing” new pair of playing shoes.

David Paynter, 36, has spent the last two years designing the Payntr X Shoe, after being dissatisfied with the limited range and effectiveness of the cricket shoes available during his playing career.

They have already been supported by former England players Graeme Swann and Michael Vaughan, current England stars Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson and Bradford-born Gareth Batty and former Australian opening batsman Ed Cowan.

Mr Paynter is a former Windhill and Hanging Heaton cricketer, who now lines up for Pool in the Aire-Wharfe League, following playing stints with Yorkshire Academy, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire.

He said: “Boots have been chunky and not athletic looking at all.

“I have been working on this concept for two years, but with this third prototype I think I have cracked it.

“I’ve already got fantastic support from some of the best cricket players in the world, and now I’m working on new designs for a totally different kind of cricket sock. The Payntr X Shoe is only the start.”

The futuristic shoe is the first to combine the power of a cricket spike with the pace and comfort of a running shoe, whereas other boots may provide the traction necessary for playing on grass, but the footwear is usually heavy and unyielding, thereby hampering agility.

Mr Paynter added: “If you’re fielding for long periods of time, you need to be comfortable, with your mind focused entirely on the game, not thinking about how much your feet hurt.

“Nobody was offering this. When I retired from first-class cricket, I thought ‘well, why don’t I do something about it?’

“I decided I would design a shoe that specifically would improve the performance of the individual, and thus the game itself, for current players, and all the young ones coming up behind them.”

“I also wanted to give cricketers something to wear that looked, to be honest, cool and 21st century.”

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