Women's cricket Test for the new Ashes Trophy (3 Aug 1998)

3 August 1998

Women's cricket Test for the new Ashes Trophy

The Daily News

The famous 'Ashes' urn played for in the Test match series between England and Australia Men's sides is kept at Lords. But in a break with tradition the winners of this summer's England vs. Australia women's Test series will be allowed to take a new 'Ashes' Trophy home with them. Following a special bat-burning ceremony at Lords recently, the ashes were sealed inside a mounted wooden cricket ball to be presented to the victorious team at the end of the third women's Test at Worcester (August 21-24).

The England and Wales cricket Board announced that awards to cricket from the Government's Sportsmatch Scheme have now passed the Sterling Pounds 1.5 million mark. The achievement means that the game is, in effect, Sterling Pounds 3 million richer as the Sportsmatch Scheme business sponsorship of sporting activities on a pound for pound basis.

On Friday, May 14 at 10.45 a.m. the first ball of the 1999 Cricket World Cup will be bowled at Lords - the home of cricket. The total prize money on offer is US $ 1,000,000 winners $ 300,000 runner-up $ 150,000, losing semi finalists $ 100,000 each. England plans to capitalise on the excitement and vitality of the cricket World Cup to attract a whole new audience to the game. It plans to weave a 'Carnival' theme throughout the tournament emphasising the fun, excitement and vibrancy of the one day game for the family particularly the young.

The TCCB Chief Executive Tim Lamb will chair a debate on the impact of digital broadcasting on sport at the sport world conference to be held at - Lords Cricket Ground on September 8 and 9. Other participants in the today event include Roger Black captain of the British men's athletics team and the Chelsea and England fullback Graeme le Saux.

Meanwhile, Derbyshire have announced that in future they will play all their first class matches at the county ground, Derby. The decision which was taken for commercial reasons, ends the county's 100-year old link with first class cricket at the Queen's Park ground at Chesterfield.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)