Halfway mark for cricket tourists

Pictured outside Worcestershire’s New Road Ground are (from the left) former Athletic striker Matthew Tipton, Oldham Evening Chronicle sports editor Kevin Richardson, Matt Williams, secretary of Premier League newcomers Blackpool, and Shaw Cricket Club officials Paul Harrison and Mark Stafford.

THE five sports fanatics on a fund-raising tour of England’s 18 first-class cricket grounds have reached the halfway stage.

Earlier they dropped in at Northants, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Glamorgan and Bristol on day two of the motorway marathon.

Somerset was today’s first port of call, followed by Hampshire and Sussex.

And the five are back on the road tomorrow with Kent, Essex and Surrey on the agenda.

The journey of more than 1,000 miles comes to an end on Saturday with an appearance on Sky Sports’ Cricket AM programme and a visit to Lord’s, the home of cricket.

They are raising money for Dr Kershaw’s and Cystic Fibrosis.

Donations can be made by visiting www.challenge6.co.uk