Legendary England opening batters and captains, Sir Alastair Cook and Michael Atherton OBE, will be the guest speakers at a Gala Lord’s Dinner in the Long Room to conclude Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach’s Testimonial Year on Friday, November 22.
Cook is England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket with 12,472 at an average of 45.35 in 161 Tests and including 33 centuries.
He captained England between 2012 and 2016 during a 12 year international career which concluded with a century against India at The Oval in 2018.
Atherton preceded Cook in the opening batter role throughout the 1990s and he totalled 7,728 Test runs at 37.69 with 16 hundreds.
He led England from 1993 to 1998 and again briefly shortly before his retirement at the end of the 2001 Ashes. Since then Atherton has become a highly respected journalist with Sky Sports and is the cricket correspondent for The Times.
It promises to be an evening to remember and the Master Of Ceremonies will be former Middlesex and Durham pace bowler, Simon Hughes, who also became known as ‘The Analyst’ for his cricket media work on Channel 4 and Channel 5 and with BBC’s Test Match Special.
A Standard Package ticket for this once in a lifetime experience costs £300 per person – or £2,750 for a table of ten – and includes:
*One hour free dinner-drink reception with unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks
*Canapes
*Three course dinner, coffee, half a bottle of wine and water
*The Cook-Atherton-Hughes Experience.
A Gold Package ticket, available for only 40 people, costs £500 per person and includes:
*An hour-long tour of Lord’s incorporating its incredible history
*A champagne reception in the home dressing room including another exclusive top notch guest speaker.
*Three course dinner, coffee, half a bottle of wine and water
*The Cook-Atherton-Hughes Experience
There will also be an accommodation package and details will be announced in the near future.
Joe Leach said: “Sir Alastair Cook and Michael Atherton have been two of the most biggest names and most prolific batters in England Test cricket spanning three decades and I’m sure they will have many fascinating and interesting stories to tell.
“After a varied year of events, this should be a memorable experience for everyone to conclude the Testimonial Year.
“Lord’s is steeped in so much history and tradition and having a Gala Dinner in the world famous Long Room will be an occasion to remember.”
Anyone wanting to purchase tickets should contact Testimonial Committee member, Clive O’Donnell at cliveodonnell@live.co.uk
Please make payments to the bank account Joe Leach Testimonial, Account Number 22325863, Sort Code 30-99-50 or visit the website by clicking here.
