Return of a traditional treat (From Gazette Series)

Return of a traditional treat

ONE of Gloucestershire cricket's oldest and most renowned traditions gets underway next week as the C&G Cheltenham Cricket Festival returns.

The event, one of the longest running cricket festivals in the world, pits Gloucestershire CCC against Lancashire, Worcestershire and Kent in a 12-day feast of action that will take place in the beautiful surroundings of Cheltenham College.

The festival begins on Wednesday and will run until Sunday, August 1. The principal matches see Mark Alleyne's side taking on Lancashire and Worcestershire in the County Championship and Lancashire and Kent in the National League, although these league games are just a fraction of the entertainment on offer during the festival's run.

On Monday, July 26, the Jack Russell XI will be stepping up to the crease to take on a specially-selected Gloucestershire XI in a Twenty20 game that will form a part of legendary wicket-keeper Russell's testimonial.

Also included in the fun is a huge exhibition match, as Mike Gatting's Ashes winning team takes on a Celebrity XI on Tuesday, July 27. On top of this, the festival will be welcoming the ECB Roadshow, an exciting and interactive collection of activities promoting cricket, as well as the 'C&G Game Zone' which provides organised cricket coaching for children.

The festival always proves popular with fans across the county, but this year's event is expected to be a major draw due to the recent retirement of Russell and the fact that Cheltenham will host his much-anticipated testimonial match.

In anticipation of the festival, Gloucestershire CCC chief executive Tom Richardson said: "Cricket is both a simple and yet complex game which, at best, is incredibly exciting. Put that against the lovely setting of Cheltenham, and you've got a winning combination."

Head coach and all-rounder Alleyne, who will be experiencing his first festival as a coach having starred in many as a player, added: "The C&G Cheltenham Cricket Festival is special. For one thing, the playing surface of the college is very good, both for batting and bowling. And secondly, it's a tight ground, and as a player you get to feel a part of what's going on round the edge - the people watching, and all the marquees. It's good to feel part of the atmosphere in Cheltenham."

Gloucestershire have a strong historical link with Cheltenham College having played their first ever County Championship match on the college grounds in 1872, when they defeated Surrey.

The festival itself was devised in 1878, originally called 'Cheltenham Week', and so the event can lay claim to being one of the oldest cricket festivals still running today.

Having played host to the likes of WG Grace, Brian Lara and Wally Hammond over the years, the college has a long tradition of strong attendances at the games.

Indeed, the 2003 festival welcomed over 25,000 spectators to the ground.

The league criteria for the festival is simple. The County Championship clash with Lancashire begins on Wednesday and concludes on Saturday, before the two sides clash again in the one-day National League match on the Sunday.

Then, on Wednesday, July 28, Alleyne's men face Worcestershire in the Championship, before taking on Kent in the National League on Sunday, August 1.

For further details on the festival and ticket information, contact Gloucestershire CCC on 0117 910 8000.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire stars Craig Spearman and Jon Lewis have been narrowly edged out in the voting for the Frizzell PCA Performance of the Month Award for June, losing to Warwickshire's former England batsman Nick Knight.

While Spearman actually outscored Knight with his 341 runs from 390 balls against Middlesex at Archdeacon Meadow - the highest first class score of the season so far - Knight's outstanding innings of 303* for Warwickshire against Middlesex made him the fifth man in history to claim a triple century at Lord's, and thus sealed his award.

Pace bowler Lewis, meanwhile, was also in the running for the prize having claimed a host of wickets in June, including seven second innings scalps in Gloucestershire's demolition of Surrey several weeks ago.