Ex-England captains speak at tribute dinner

TWO former England cricket captains were guest speakers at a Shane Warne Tribute Dinner in Ipswich.

Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting regaled around 250 guests with stories about the Australian leg spinner, who passed away in March last year at the age of 52.

It was Gatting who was dismissed by Warne’s first ball in an Ashes Test match at Old Trafford in June 1993. The delivery was later dubbed the ‘Ball of the Century’.

Warne went on take 708 Test wickets, placing him second among leading wicket-takers in Test match history behind the 800 victims of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.

The pair also told tales about their England careers and time on the county circuit – Gooch skippered Essex and Gatting captained Middlesex.

The evening, organised by Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC and held at Venue 16, was hosted by club president and ex-Essex bowler Ray East.

The event included a three-course meal, raffle, game of heads & tails and an auction and raised more than £12,000 towards club funds.

Pictured above before the dinner are (left to right) Graham Gooch, Ray East and Mike Gatting.

Tags: Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC, Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting, Ray East, Shane Warne, Venue 16

Categorised in: News