‘Grassroot Ashes’ idea on the way

CRICKET’S oldest prize has helped deliver a new one to the Gold Coast, with an innovative grassroots Ashes match to be held on the Australia Day weekend.

In keeping with the rivalry set to engulf our summer, a fundraising contest has been locked in at Bill Pippen Oval for England and Australian sides made up of players from Cricket Gold Coast.

The brainchild of Englishman and Burleigh skipper Simon Belston, the match will be taken seriously but with all funds raised to be reinvested in grassroots cricket.

One Aussie player from each CGC club plus one Dolphins player will be selected, and there is roughly a complete team of English recruits playing in first grade.

While the clash has been inspired by the Tests series, CGC co-ordinator Greg Little insisted this will become a fixture in the schedule.

“It won’t be a one-off game – we want to play it every year,” he said.

“This first one is about England because of the Ashes but every other year it might be against all the other nations.

“It will be a serious match but it should be some fun.

“There are about 15 English players in first grade and they have very talented players so it should be a great match.”

Little said the promise of helping cricket at all levels ensured the game got the green light from the players.

“Everything we raise on the day will go back into Cricket Gold Coast,” he said. “It will be a great benefit to the sport.”

Warwick Glaves will manage the Australian team and Nigel Wardropper the tourists.