Lashings of cricket stars coming to Bexhill

Lashings - probably the most famous club side in the game - will bring their famous World XI to The Polegrove on Thursday August 9.

Mick Waghorn, chairman of Bexhill Cricket Club which uses the ground, said: "We're delighted to host the fixture. It's a feather in the cap for the club and the town as a whole."

Kent-based Lashings will play a 35-overs-per-side match against a 1066 Sporting Club Select XI which will comprise players from throughout the area under the captaincy of Hastings Priory's Bradley Smith.

Although it is far too early to say who will be playing, the Lashings line-up is sure to feature a veritable galaxy of stars from around the globe.

Last year's squad contained the likes of Courtney Walsh, Sachin Tendulkar, Richie Richardson, Phil DeFreitas, Alvin Kallicharran, Aravinda de Silva and Gordon Greenidge.

Other household names to have played for them in the past include Mark Waugh, Shoaib Akhtar and Herschelle Gibbs.

"You don't often get the opportunity to put on a fixture in which there are going to be big names on the ground. We're really looking forward to it and there's no reason why it shouldn't be successful," continued Waghorn.

Lashings are no strangers to the locality having contested the 1066 Sporting Club Cricket Challenge against Hastings Priory at Horntye Park Sports Complex for the past five years.

Terry Avann, of organisers Style Entertainments, commented: "We felt the need to freshen up the event with a change of venue and opposition. As a venue The Polegrove seems ideal and Bexhill (Cricket Club) have been great about it."

Horntye Park general manager Kevin Miller added: "We looked at Lashings and thought they were a bit expensive, but we have got an Old England XI coming on Sunday August 5 (to face Priory in the centrepiece of their 50th anniversary celebrations)."

Proceeds from the Lashings game will go to 1066 Sporting Club, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to nurture young sporting talent in 1066 Country.

Any businesses interested in sponsorship and corporate hospitality packages should telephone Avann on 07885 298134 or send an e-mail to [email protected]