SPONSORED CONTENT
CRICKET fans will be bowled over when the ICC World Cup Trophy stops off at Raby Castle as part of its tour ahead of the competition.
After spending 100 days on the road travelling around England and Wales, the Trophy will be calling in at Raby Castle on Saturday, April 6, to give fans the chance to see it in all its shining glory, and to enjoy a special match between a Sir Ian Botham Raby XI and a Durham Cricket XI, on the Raby Castle cricket pitch.
The match is due to start 1.30pm and last throughout the afternoon. It will also be the first chance for many to see the 100-ball format - the newest form of the game - due to be introduced next year.
Raby is working closely with Durham County Cricket Club to make this a memorable occasion, with a free day of family fun which, in addition to the match, will include photo opportunities with the Cricket World Cup Trophy itself.
There will also be cricket games from Durham Cricket’s match day family zone for people to take part in, children’s ‘come and try’ sessions and face painting, as well as local food and drink available to purchase on the day.
Thousands of fans have already had the chance to catch a glimpse of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy during the international leg of the tour which began on February 19. By the time it had reached England and Wales in February, it had visited 18 countries worldwide.
The Castle’s association with cricket goes back a long way, as it was the site of the first officially recorded game of cricket ever played in Durham in 1751 - one of earliest recorded cricket games in the world. The match was contested by The Duke of Northumberland XI and Lord Barnard XI, and was recreated in 1992, featuring the full Durham XI, including Sir Ian Botham.
The tour finishes on May 29, the day before the tournament opens at The Oval, in London, when England takes on South Africa. Durham will host three ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 matches at the Riverside, including England’s final group game against New Zealand on Wednesday, July 3.
Entry to this memorable event is FREE, so why not make it a day out for all of the family and visit the Castle, Park, Walled Gardens and Woodland Play area too?
Raby is open daily from 10am, and the Castle from 11am.
Visit www.raby.co.uk/whats-on for more information.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here