Strauss Set To Head Help For Heroes Team

The Kia Oval is to stage an inaugural Help for Heroes Twenty20 fundraising match on 17 September, which will feature cricketing stars past and present.

The event, which is to be supported by Old Mutual Wealth, will raise money for the charity which offers support to men and women who have been injured while serving their country.

The match will provide an end-of-season finale to the cricket season and will pit an England side against a Rest of the World XI.

The England team will be captained by Andrew Strauss and coached by Sir Ian Botham, while Gary Kirsten will coach the Rest of the World team, whose captain has not been named yet.

The feature match will be preceded by a first match between a Top Flight XI and a Help for Heroes Recovery XI, made up of those who have been wounded or injured serving in the British Armed Forces.

Former England batsman Allan Lamb will select the teams for the main match and he said: “I am sure that the cricketing world will embrace this exciting game on the 17th September.

“As chair of selectors, I am intent on picking the very best teams to play each other for this great cause. We want to create a fantastic spirit on the day, and I am convinced we will do that.”

Bryn Parry, co-founder of Help for Heroes, added: “Help for Heroes is all about ‘doing your bit’ to support the men and women of our Armed Forces who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses.

“This match will see cricket legends from around the world take part in a highly competitive game of Twenty20 to raise much needed funds for our wounded.

“So many of our veterans don't know what the future holds. It's vital we continue to show support for our heroes.”