LOCAL village cricket club Martley will play host to an exciting family day out next month as part of the Testimonial Year for Worcestershire CCC legend Ben Cox. 

They will play a T20 match against a Worcestershire side, fronted by wicketkeeper Cox to celebrate his Testimonial Year, having passed 10 years of service to Worcestershire. The date for the game is July 16.   

It will be the first time the sides have met since 2003, when it was former County star David Leatherdale’s Testimonial Year. They also previously celebrated with an iconic game in 2000 for Stuart Lampitt’s Testimonial Year, which witnessed one of the world’s greatest-ever bowlers to represent Martley.

Glenn McGrath, who took 563 Test wickets for Australia and sits sixth on the all-time list of wickets taken, played one season for Worcestershire back in 2000, and during that time, he lived in Martley.    

During that campaign, he took an incredible 80 wickets for Worcestershire in 14 games, and also featured in a game for Martley against his Worcestershire teammates, as he swapped places with Martley’s Dave Bradley – who is also cricket commentator for BBC Hereford & Worcester.    

Worcester News: Dave Bradley (right) with Glenn McGrath (left) and a signed Martley shirt at the society event Dave Bradley (right) with Glenn McGrath (left) and a signed Martley shirt at the society event (Image: Tom Vale)

McGrath hit 50 for Martley in the match, as over 750 attended the picturesque Jewry Field in Martley to watch the Australian legend and his colleagues in action.  

McGrath, recently back in Worcester speaking to the Worcester Cricket Society, said: "This is my home in England. When I come back here and I’ve got a vehicle, I always drive out to Martley and reminisce.

"I remember that match at Martley – it’s one of the two occasions in my career that I went and batted without a helmet on! I was in a cap and I remember I hit a 50. I was happy with my batting that day!”  

This year’s game between Worcestershire and Martley will include cricket for juniors and women at the tea interval of the match, as well as a bouncy castle and ice cream van for youngsters on the day.

There will also be music throughout, a band after the game, bars and food vans, and a raffle supported by a host of local businesses providing great prizes. 

Bradley, who grew up in Martley, played his first game for the club when he was 13, and is now the Club President, said: "It’s going to be a great day out for all the family.

"Martley is a thriving little community and having a game of this magnitude is great for the area and we’re encouraging everyone to come on down and enjoy the atmosphere." 

Hospitality and sponsorship are available for the event (which starts at 2pm) by emailing martleycricketclub@yahoo.co.uk or contacting 07866 655985.