PCA PRESS RELEASE
Our squad of former internationals will continue to support local clubs this summer.
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The PCA England Masters, sponsored by Greene King, are gearing up for another blockbuster summer taking on grassroots cricket clubs and schools with their first outing of the season forming part of the ‘Cricket World Cup Family Days’ this weekend.
The squad, led by fast bowler Alex Tudor, have 10 fixtures to look forward to, beginning with a trip to Leigh Cricket Club on Sunday 9 June. Monton Sports Club follows on 14 June, before the squad travels to Oxton CC later this month. The Masters’ season will conclude with a tenth fixture against Woolpit CC on 26 August.
Each event comprises of a coaching session for juniors, a fundraising lunch and a competitive T20 game to headline the day’s activities.
The first fixture against Leigh will be a particularly special one, given the cricket celebration that will be taking place across the country on that weekend. Clubs will be welcoming local players, families and volunteers during Cricket World Cup Club Family Days from 7-9 June, as part of the ECB’s aim to engage one million kids over the course of the tournament.
In Leigh’s case, that means there will be a funfair, live steel band, a fireworks finale and more on top of the day’s coaching and marquee lunch in a fun-filled day of entertainment in Lancashire.
The aim of the PCA England Masters programme is to raise valuable funds for local cricket clubs. Every penny raised at each matchday is recycled back into the host club with funds spent at the clubs’ discretion, but are often used to redevelop facilities, invest in coaching or support local charities.
Over £600,000 has been raised since Greene King started sponsoring the programme three years ago, with the Masters aiming to continue their aim of promoting cricket in the community and adding to substantial funds raised for recreational clubs and schools.
Last year saw the Masters play 14 times with former Surrey batsman Ali Brown named the Greene King PCA England Masters Player of the Summer at the NatWest PCA Awards, after his teammates selected him as the standout performer.
More importantly, though, a combined £207,000 was raised across the 14 host clubs.
Hoping to push that figure even higher, and rival Brown for the coveted end of season honours, are a raft of new faces ready to make their Masters debuts.
Former Warwickshire man Jonathan Trott is chief among those. The 38-year-old averaged 44.08 in Tests for England, and boasts three Ashes triumphs among his career honours.
He’ll be joined by fellow newcomers Luke Wright, Nick Knight and Craig White.
A number of familiar faces will be returning, including Matthew Hoggard, Mark Ramprakash and Ryan Sidebottom, amongst others.
Former Surrey man Adam Hollioake sat down with the PCA, outlining somethings you may not know about the squad in a teammates video including who is the ultra-competitive beast, black cabbie and who sells helicopters for a living. You can watch the video below…
Read our PCA England Masters brochure to find out more information about the programme.
