We’re pleased to announce our sponsorship for the ‘Big Burley Bash’ in July, with some celebrated names in world cricket coming to Burley-in-Wharfedale to entertain and play against the locals.

The Big Burley Bash is a T20 game featuring the famous Lashings Xl v the local Burley-in-Wharfedale Cricket Club, and will take place on Friday 12th July at 4pm, but there is a whole weekend of activities lined up to celebrate this landmark event for the cricket club and the local area.

T20 is a format of cricket that has mesmerised the sporting public and clever marketing has seen it become one of the best family attractions that sport can offer. The 20-over format encourages big hitting, lots of wickets and always a close finish, and along with the visit of the Lashings Xl, this is lined up to be a great weekend for local cricket fans!

Formed in 1984, the Lashings Xl is a collection of ex-international cricketers and is based in Maidstone, Kent. The team tour the UK each year playing games versus local schools and local amateur clubs to spread the gospel of cricket, and of course, to raise some money for their opponents.

Over the years, some of the biggest names in world cricket have turned out for the Lashings Xl, including Richie Richardson, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jimmy Adams, Javagal Srinath, Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald, Shoaib Akhtar, Sir Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam Ul Haq, Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif. It really does read as a ‘who’s who’ of world cricket.

World cricket legends in Yorkshire

At the Big Burley Bash, confirmed players for the Lashings Xl include former West Indies duo Tino Best and Gordon Greenidge, Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer and England regulars John Emburey, Devon Malcolm and Chris Lewis. The team will be captained by ex-Surrey and England fast bowler Martin Bicknell.

The main event takes place on the Friday, with a training session for local youngsters in the morning. The 4pm game will be preceded by a 12 noon corporate lunch for 250 people, which will include a three-course meal, a Q&A with the players and an auction for charity. The lunch will be hosted by the legendary ‘voice of cricket’ Henry Blofeld. The T20 game will then start at 4pm and is expected to last until 7.30pm. But that’s not the end of the weekend’s activities. Saturday night will see a disco in the marquee, while Sunday will be a family day at the popular local cricket club.

We will be delighted to attend the event and we have some avid cricket fans in our branches! Nigel Cowley, Dan Holah, James Thompson and Managing Partner Jonathan Wearing will be attending along with guests.

In sponsoring the event, the Ison Harrison name will also feature on ground boards and in all promotional material, including the programme and other event literature. It has always been in our DNA to help local businesses and to give a little bit back to the local communities that we serve, and with the visit of the Lashings Xl in July, we get to witness a quite unique sporting spectacle too.