Howzat?! Well for these shocked London tourists, it seemed pretty alright, judging by their faces. The stunned onlookers’ were hit for six when these gorgeous swimsuit-clad models transformed Hyde Park into their own cricket wicket for a make-shift game last week.

With less than a week to go until the first ball is bowled, Ashes fever has already started gripping the nation – with these stunning amateurs no exception. The bales-loving beauties were out in London celebrating National Bikini Day when they couldn’t resist getting in the mood for Wednesday’s opening match with a few overs of their own.

Wearing skimpy bikinis, the heavenly harem thrilled tourists and locals alike with their morning knock-about, celebrating 69-years since the invention of the much-loved two-piece. And to show just what side they’re on ahead of the biennial battle between England and Australia, each of the girls resisted the temptation to kit themselves out in foreign imports – instead dazzling the swelling city crowd in a series of show-stopping styles designed by new London brand, SasSea.Swimwear.

Director Victoria James said: ‘National Bikini Day is all about celebrating the design which single-handedly changed the way women view swimwear. ‘And just now – when there is so much debate about the pressures on women to have that perfect beach body – today should be marked by all women just letting their hair-down and celebrating however they like…in their bikinis, of course!

‘There is so much pressure on women to have that “perfect body”, which often dictates how they feel when choosing their swimwear. ‘But as far as I’m concerned, all any woman needs is their smile, suntan cream and a SasSea bikini and then they’re more than ready for the beach!’

The mesmerising models invited passers-by – who were more than willing - to join them for a few balls as they celebrated the global celebration in their own, unique fashion. National Bikini Day marks the anniversary of the July 5, 1946, when French fashion designer Louis Réard first came up with the now iconic two-piece. Named after the nuclear testing site Bikini Atoll - because Réard believed it had the power to shock the public just as much as a nuclear blast – runway models first refused to wear the swimwear alternative.

However, it is now a billion-pound industry fashion staple.