The 2014 CIMA Mayor’s Cricket Across the Pond tour includes a range of formal meetings and visits to London’s two test match grounds, Lord’s and the Oval, plus cricket coaching and a number of cricket matches against local opposition. The tour party is due to fly from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport next Friday (July 18, 2014).
A warm-up session is scheduled at the Chessington Cricket Club on the Saturday afternoon (July 19). Sunday morning sees a trip to the Oval, home of Surrey County Cricket Club, followed by the opening game of the tour on Sunday afternoon (July 20) against Old Wimbledonians Cricket Club. The Sunday afternoon game is scheduled for 25 overs a side.
On Monday (July 21) the RBC CIMA Mayor’s team plays a 25 overs a side game against Reigate Priory in the afternoon, followed by a reception in the evening hosted by the Mayor and Council of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
The tourists cross the River Thames on Tuesday to visit the Marylebone Cricket Club’s home ground of Lord’s. The lads of the MCC are playing Hong Kong but the RBC CIMA Mayor’s squad will move on to Chessington CC for an afternoon game against a CIMA UK team, to be played as 20-overs per side.
A visit to the home of the Greater London Authority, including a meeting with the Deputy Mayor, is scheduled for Wednesday July 23. A 30 overs a side game follows in the afternoon against Purley Cricket Club. Thursday includes a morning game against the Chris Gayle Academy, Plough Lane, Wimbledon and an afternoon game against Sunbury Cricket Club. The game with the Chris Gayle Academy is planned for 20 overs a side while the afternoon game is due to be 30 overs per side.
The tour concludes with a day assigned for sightseeing on Friday, July 25, and a flight back to Canada.
Best wishes to all involved in this year’s Cricket Across the Pond tour, and it is hoped that news of the 2014 RBC CIMA Mayor’s touring party’s activities on the cricket field in the Surrey, UK area will emerge as the tour unfolds. (EN)