Mollie King practices her bowling technique

Mollie King gets a helping hand from cricketer boyfriend Stuart Broad as she practices her bowling technique in their back garden

Every novice has to start somewhere, but Mollie King had a clear advantage as she attempted to play cricket in her back garden on Tuesday.

The former Saturdays star was given a helping hand by boyfriend Stuart Broad as the couple kept themselves entertained during an extended period of self-quarantine at their Nottingham home. 

Fortunately for beginner Mollie, sportsman Stuart is an established test cricketer with England and has represented his country in the Ashes Series, the ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup.

Learner: Every novice has to start somewhere, but Mollie King had a clear advantage as she attempted to play cricket in her back garden on Tuesday

Taking to Instagram as the UK adapts to a fifth week of strict lockdown laws, the 32-year old admitted she was stunned after discovering Stuart, 33, had invested in an enormous net in order to practice his bowling technique.

But she was left disappointed after discovering the cricketer had elected to bowl at the empty net, instead of giving her an opportunity to bat.

Addressing her fans, she said: ‘Slightly offended that he decided to bowl at the net instead of me, but let’s see how he does.’

Here we go: The former Saturdays star was given a helping hand by boyfriend Stuart Broad as the couple kept themselves entertained during an extended period of self-quarantine

Here we go: The former Saturdays star was given a helping hand by boyfriend Stuart Broad as the couple kept themselves entertained during an extended period of self-quarantine

Here we go: The former Saturdays star was given a helping hand by boyfriend Stuart Broad as the couple kept themselves entertained during an extended period of self-quarantine

Advantage: Fortunately for beginner Mollie, sportsman Stuart is an established test cricketer with England and has represented his country in the Ashes Series and the T20 World Cup

Advantage: Fortunately for beginner Mollie, sportsman Stuart is an established test cricketer with England and has represented his country in the Ashes Series and the T20 World Cup

Somewhat predictably the seasoned right arm seam bowler did rather well, and Mollie later filmed her boyfriend as he bypassed the net and took aim at a set of wickets. 

The former singer was eventually given the chance to get involved, with Stuart sharing a running commentary as she made a game attempt at bowling while the couple’s pet dog Alfie playfully snapped at her heels. 

Unfortunately for Mollie, she was forced to search for the ball in the large hedgerow surrounding their back garden after a particularly enthusiastic throw – much to her boyfriend’s amusement.   

Two days previously the cricketer shared his own video of Mollie with cricket bat in hand as he bowled in their spacious back garden. 

Bigger than expected: Taking to Instagram, Mollie admitted she was stunned after discovering Stuart, 33, had invested in an enormous net in order to practice his bowling technique

Bigger than expected: Taking to Instagram, Mollie admitted she was stunned after discovering Stuart, 33, had invested in an enormous net in order to practice his bowling technique

Awkward: But she was left disappointed after discovering the cricketer had elected to bowl at the empty net, instead of giving her an opportunity to bat

Awkward: But she was left disappointed after discovering the cricketer had elected to bowl at the empty net, instead of giving her an opportunity to bat 

Mollie and Stuart were originally thought to have gone their separate ways in August 2018 after a blossoming romance of five months.

The couple were said to have unfollowed each other to heal and their packed schedules were reportedly to blame for the split, according to The Sun.

A source said at the time: ‘Mollie and Stuart’s romance has fizzled out. Their schedules are packed and it’s not been easy to see each other often.

My turn: The former singer was eventually given the chance to get involved, with Stuart sharing a running commentary as she made a game attempt at bowling

My turn: The former singer was eventually given the chance to get involved, with Stuart sharing a running commentary as she made a game attempt at bowling

Where is it? Mollie was forced to retrieve the cricket ball from the large hedge surrounding their garden

Funny: Stuart filmed his girlfriend as she raced off to fetch the ball

Where is it? Mollie was forced to retrieve the ball from the large hedge surrounding their garden

Let's do this: Two days previously the cricketer shared his own video of Mollie with cricket bat in hand as he bowled in their spacious back garden

Let’s do this: Two days previously the cricketer shared his own video of Mollie with cricket bat in hand as he bowled in their spacious back garden

‘It wasn’t working so they went their separate ways. There are no hard feelings.’

However, speculation was rife the couple were an item again after they were spotted together again in February 2019, before they confirmed they’d reunited in March that year.

Previously, Mollie claimed she ‘loves being in love’ because she’s a hopeless romantic and a girly girl at heart.

She told Women’s Health in 2017: ‘I love being in love. I literally love being in love. I’m so romantic. I’m such a girly girl.

‘I don’t want to be in one of those couples where you feel like, “Are we really into each other?”‘