Stars pay homage to Hancock (From Gazette Series)

Stars pay homage to Hancock

A LARGE crowd is expected at Stone Cricket Club on Wednesday night for the Tim Hancock Benefit Match, as fans pay tribute to one of Gloucestershire CCC's most loyal servants.

The match pits Stone's first team against a Gloucestershire side made up of present stars and 'guest' players, the idea being to recognise and celebrate Hancock's successful and loyal service to the county side.

Stone have been regular participants in county benefit matches over the years, putting on special games in 2001 and 2002 for popular Gloucestershire stars Martyn Ball and Tony Wright.

Ball, the former England international off-spinner, and Wright, the one-time county captain and opening batsman who now works as an academy coach at the County Ground, both enjoyed well-attended benefit matches at Stone, and it is hoped that Hancock will receive a similar response.

The long-serving batsman told the Gazette: "Stone have supported Gloucestershire beneficiaries down the years by organising this match.

"They are passionate about Gloucestershire cricket and it is a real pleasure to be able to bring the team down for the evening and to meet everyone from the club. I am really looking forward to the evening and it will be a lot of fun.

"I am very pleased to have been given a benefit, it is a great honour and I look forward to combining it with another successful season with Gloucestershire."

Hancock, 32, first played for the county in 1991 and was awarded his county cap in 1998. In his career, he has scored 8,344 first class runs and 4,145 one-day runs and has taken 46 first class wickets and 47 one-day wickets.

Announced as the club's beneficiary at the start of the year, he was immediately praised by Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson, who said in his statement: "Tim Hancock, in many ways, has been a model professional. He is dedicated, loyal and works extremely hard on his game. We wish him every success in his benefit year."

It should be quite a night, with the county team set to include such luminaries as Gloucestershire captain Chris Taylor, Alex Gidman, Steve Adshead, Phil Weston, Ian Fisher, Steve Kirby and Matt Windows, not to mention Hancock himself.

The game begins at 6.30pm, though Hancock will arrive at Stone's Swanley ground one hour before to spend the first hour of the night coaching junior players.

At the heart of the organisation of the match has been Stone club secretary Mary Turl, who is also helping to organise a charity match in July that will raise funds for meningitis care.

Turl told the Gazette: "I would just like to thank all of the people who have sponsored in the match programme. I hope for a nice, fine evening."