Is the pen mightier than Broad? England stars and 2005 heroes draw each other for charity

Is the pen mightier than Broad? England stars and 2005 heroes draw each other for charity England players past and present have swapped their bats for pens to raise funds for the Cricket United charity appeal. The current England squad have penned portraits of the 2005 Ashes winning squad, who have returned the favour. Cricket United is a joint fundraising appeal by the Lord’s Taverners, Chance to Shine and the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust which aims to improve lives through cricket. The charities are asking cricket fans to help turn the Kia Oval blue again on Cricket United Day, 22nd August, the third day of the fifth Investec Ashes Test between England and Australia. The drawings are being auctioned off on eBay to raise funds for Cricket United. Supporters can bid for them by visiting bit.ly/CUAshesPortraits. The auction is open until 7pm Sunday 23rd August. Michael Vaughan celebrated Stuart Broad’s Ashes winning 8-15 spell at Trent Bridge by penning the star celebrating one of his eight victims. Andrew Flintoff drew Joe Root as a baby crawling toward the Ashes urn. Root reciprocated by depicting Freddie in his suit celebrating the famous 2005 Ashes victory. Jos Buttler sketched former team mate Marcus Trescothick in the style of the ‘Michelin Man’. England’s leading Test wicket taker, James Anderson, drew the entire 2005 seam bowling line up as well as the moment Andrew Strauss was bowled round his legs by Shane Warne. Talking about the drawings, England’s Ashes winning captain Alastair Cook said, ” It’s a bit of fun and the lads enjoyed drawing the 2005 guys. We hope the portraits will raise much-needed funds for three fantastic charities, the Lord’s Taverners, Chance to Shine and the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust, and help improve lives through cricket. “It’s safe to say that the majority of us are not budding artists, but we’d urge all cricket fans to support the Cricket United appeal either through bidding for the drawings on eBay or by helping to turn the Kia Oval blue on 22nd August.” Cricket United ambassador Michael Vaughan added, ” All of the 2005 guys jumped at the chance to support Cricket United, and have a go at drawing the current team of course! It was great fun penning Stuart Broad and I couldn’t avoid including his Ashes winning spell. ” I’m very proud to be heading up the Cricket United campaign and I want all fans to support the day. Hopefully everybody will help turn the Kia Oval blue on 22 August – if you’re coming to the day make sure you wear blue!” As well as wearing something blue, fans can show their support for the day by buying a Cricket United cap, raffle ticket or making a voluntary donation for a blue t-shirt during the day. They can also make a donation by visiting www.cricketunited.co.uk or texting CRICKET to 70123 to donate £ 5 and help spread the word by using #cricketunited. Funds raised from the day will help the Lord’s Taverners provide more sporting chances for disadvantaged and disabled young people; Chance to Shine to spread the power of cricket to young people in schools and communities; and the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust to help past and present professional cricketers in their hour of need. Other highlights of Cricket United day include: – Children who have benefited from the charities will form a guard of honour for the players at the start of the day – Blue coloured stumps and bails are being used for the first time in an England Test international at home – The England and Australian team are wearing special Test shirts with the Cricket United logo on the collar to show their support to Cricket United Day – A Cricket United flag is flying on top of the Pavilion – Umpires are wearing a blue ribbon on their hat in support of Cricket United – Investec are turning their 4 & 6 cards blue for the day – Cricket United ambassadors including Matthew Hoggard, Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher will be around the ground supporting the day – During the lunch break, 40 young people from the Lord’s Taverners and Chance to Shine will take part in cricketing activities on the outfield – Broadcasters from Sky Sports, BBC and Channel 5 including Mark Nicholas, David Gower, David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Graeme Swann, Geoffrey Boycott, Phil Tufnell and Simon Hughes are all wearing special Cricket United blue suits, provided by McCann Bespoke – Test match sponsors are changing their advertising boards blue in support of the day – Recreational cricket clubs are participating in a pilot of Blue Bails Day within the Surrey County today. Clubs will mirror activities at the Kia Oval, with their own blue bails, umpires with blue ribbons on their hats and independent fundraising activities To find out more about Cricket United and to donate visit www.cricketunited.co.ukand follow us on social media. List of portraits – 2005 Ashes winning shot by Joe Root – Paul Collingwood by Ben Stokes – Andrew Flintoff, Steven Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones by James Anderson – Andrew Flintoff by Moeen Ali – Andrew Flintoff by Joe Root – Ashley Giles by Ian Bell – Steven Harmison by Mark Wood – Matthew Hoggard by Adam Lyth – Kevin Pietersen by Adil Rashid – Andrew Strauss by James Anderson – Andrew Strauss by Alastair Cook – Andrew Strauss by Steven Finn – Marcus Trescothick by Jos Buttler – Michael Vaughan by Jonathan Bairstow – Michael Vaughan by Stuart Broad – Moeen Ali by Paul Collingwood – James Anderson by Simon Jones – Jonathan Bairstow by Ian Bell – Stuart Broad by Ashley Giles – Stuart Broad by Michael Vaughan – Alastair Cook by Matthew Hoggard – Alastair Cook by Andrew Strauss – Adam Lyth by Matthew Hoggard – Joe Root by Andrew Flintoff – Joe Root by Matthew Hoggard – Joe Root by Marcus Trescothick – Ben Stokes by Steven Harmison – Ben Stokes by Matthew Hoggard – Mark Wood by Geraint Jones For more information please contact: Chance to Shine Ben Walker, Senior Communications Officer Tel. 07901 102 533. Email: ben.walker@cricketfoundation.org.uk Fabian Devlin, Head of Communications Tel. 07920 502 152 Email: Fabian.devlin@cricketfoundation.org.uk Lord’s Taverners James Gillson, Head of Communications Tel. 020 7821 2803 / 07870 576 979 Email: James.Gillson@lordstaverners.org PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust Luke Reynolds, Social Media Executive Tel. 07827 980 884 Email: LReynolds@thepca.co.uk Notes to editor About the Lord’s Taverners The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. This year the Lord’s Taverners will donate over £ 3 million to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a ‘sporting chance’. www.lordstaverners.org About Chance to Shine Chance to Shine is a national charity on a mission to spread the power of cricket throughout schools and communities. It takes cricket to new places and uses it to ignite new passions, teach vital skills, unite diverse groups, and educate young people from Cornwall to Canterbury to County Durham. www.chancetoshine.org. About PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust The Professional Cricketers’ Association has been the representative body of past and present first class cricketers in England and Wales, since the organisation was founded in 1967. Their Professional Cricketers’ Trust is part of the PCA’s commitment to helping current and former players and their dependants in times of hardship or to readjust to the world beyond the game. www.thepca.co.uk {{ak_sharing}}