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First staged in 1872, when James Lillywhite, cricket coach at Cheltenham College, suggested that during the summer holiday a county match should be held on its grounds, Cheltenham Cricket Festival is the oldest cricket festival in the world. It has seen appearances from cricketing greats such as W.G Grace, Courtney Walsh and Brian Lara, as well as attracting the top teams every year.
In 1872 Lillywhite was given £10 to arrange the cricket match with the Surrey team. The star of the this and the following matches was undoubtedly W. G. Grace, Gloucestershire captain, who, in the 1874 match took 7 wickets for 7 runs in the first innings and 7 for 18 in the second, and who, in the 1876 match against Yorkshire, scored 318 not out.. By 1878 a second match was introduced, and Lillywhite was allocated £120. The third fixture was added in 1906 and the event was elevated to a Cricket Festival.
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| Cheltenham Cricket Festival |
At the early days of Cricket Festival, it was a custom to play a novelty game if the proper match finished early. In 1877, for example, a Gloucestershire v. Cheltenham match took place in which the county side used broomsticks and scored 299.
Against the idyllic backdrop of Cheltenham College and the Cotswold hills, you get the chance to see top cricketers in action. The festival is one of the biggest events in the English cricketing calendar and is not to be missed.
CHELTENHAM CRICKET FESTIVAL 2008
July - August 2008
In person by calling in the Ticket Office at the County Ground in Bristol during office hours. By telephone on 0117 9108000 or 0117 9108010. You can also book online at www.gloscricket.co.uk .
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