International Cricket Comes To Cornwall For The First Time

The first international cricket match ever to be staged in Cornwall will take place this summer during a major new sporting festival.

After an absence of nine years, top level cricket is also making a welcome return with the Teddington Solar Cornish Cricket Festival 2012, being hosted by the Cornish Sporting Club.

The festival will include two high profile professional matches, including a NatWest Women’s One Day International - England v India, and the Men’s Twenty 20 Challenge match – Cornwall v PCA Masters Eleven.

The England Women’s team is currently the world number one side and ICC Women’s World Cup champions, whilst India women are ranked number three in the world in 50 over cricket.

England Women’s captain, Charlotte Edwards, said: "I’m looking forward to playing the fourth match of the NatWest Women’s Series against India as part of the Cornish Cricket Festival; it’s fantastic for women’s cricket to be showcased in the county.

“I’m sure the festival will be an exciting event and I hope it inspires young people, especially girls across Cornwall to play and support cricket.”

Organiser, Alan George, from the Cornish Sporting Club, said: “The England v India match is a fantastic coup for Cornwall and we are extremely proud to be hosting the festival. We want to share our passion for cricket with sports fans, families and anyone else who fancies a great day out.”

The women’s match will take place on July 8, whilst the Cornwall v PCA Masters Eleven will be played on July 5. Truro Cricket Club, in Malpas, will host the games and there will also be a selection of activities and events throughout the week.

The full line up for the PCA Masters side has recently been announced and includes the following high profile players: Paul Nixon (captain), Lou Vincent, Chris Schofield, Ian Harvey, Alex Tudor, Greg Matthews, Martin Bicknell, Phil DeFreitas, Saqlain Mushtaq, John Emburey and Dean Headley.

England’s John Emburey has played an impressive 64 test matches and 61 One Day Internationals. He said: “The PCA Masters have only got about six or seven games in the calendar for the year, so there is always a lot of people who are keen to play. Personally I still enjoy playing and with our combined international experience I think we can beat the Cornwall Men’s team.”

John is in good company, with Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq having played 49 test matches and an astonishing 169 One Day Internationals. Meanwhile, England’s Phil DeFreitas, will prove a tough contender for Cornwall’s Men’s team having played 44 test matches and 103 One Day Internationals.

Tom Sharp, Cornwall’s captain said: “We’ve got strengths throughout our side, with several experienced players, but a fairly young side overall with a great deal of talent.

“I think with the line up we’ve got it’ll definitely be an entertaining game. We’re hoping it’ll draw in the crowds and get more young people interested in the game.”

Ensuring that the festival has a family feel is also hugely important to the organisers, who are committed to helping and improving grass roots cricket in Cornwall. A number of areas have been targeted for support over the next 12 months and beyond with festivals planned for future years.

This year a minimum of £2,000 sponsorship is being donated to the Cornish Cricket Board and the more successful the festival is, the larger the sponsorship will be.

The Cornish Sporting Club sponsored the Cornwall Under 15 team’s kit for their 2011 tour to the West Indies and will be doing the same for the 2012 team. 

Businesses can get involved with the Festival through Match Day Hospitality, Pitch Side Advertising Boards, Match Programme Advertising, Trade Stands and Sponsorship.

A star studded sporting dinner is also being held on July 6, with special guests including former England Rugby Union captain and Leicester Tigers Legend Lewis Moody; along with the former Premiership Football Manager, Alan Curbishley.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased through the website, visit www.cornishcricketfestival.co.uk for more information, call Mark Gregory on 07972 102653 or email mark@cornishsportingclub.co.uk .

Posted 17th May 2012  by member Cornish Sporting Club