While Australia are the world champions in that most English of sports, Afghanistan is hardly a name that likewise sends shivers up the spine in cricketing circles.

Nonetheless, the British servicemen were trounced by an Afghan National Army team on a helicopter landing strip substituting for a pitch in a festive match Sunday to mark Christmas, New Year and the Muslim festival of Eid.

Members of 45 Commando Group were dismissed for 56 all out and not a single player made a double figure score.

If the British batting was poor, the bowling was no better, as the Afghan side cruised to victory within 12 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Lieutenant Rob Cooper told Britain's domestic Press Association news agency that the Marines were no match for their local counterparts.

"The skill level of the Afghans was brilliant. We soon realised that we were in trouble when they opened the bowling," he said.

"Obviously we were disappointed to lose as badly as we did, but we still managed to enjoy the encounter.

"It certainly provided a good break from the operational work being done on a daily basis out here."

The Marines and Commando Gunners have been training the Afghan Army's 3/205 Brigade for the last three months.

But now it seems like they could do with some training themselves to sort out their batting and bowling.

Britain has deployed around 5,600 service personnel to Afghanistan in total, with around 4,300 of those in the south of the country and 1,300 in the capital, Kabul.