A 22-year-old university student from Oxfordshire will attempt to bat for 26 hours to beat a Guinness World Record held by an Australian batsman, on Monday 15 July at the Kia Oval in London.
Alby Shale is raising money for a Rwandan cricket charity - Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation - which plans to build the first cricket stadium in Rwanda. The charity was the brainchild of Alby's father Christopher, who died aged just 56 in 2011. The charity is supported by Prime Minister David Cameron, West Indian cricket legend Brian Lara and BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew.
Alby will begin his net at 6:45am on Monday 15 July in the Ken Barrington centre at the Kia Oval in London, and will continue until 8:45am on Tuesday morning. The rules set down by Guinness World Record allow only a five minute break for every full hour completed - to take on liquids and for bathroom breaks, and he needs to bat for more than 25 hours which is the current record.
He said: “It would be great to break the record for the longest ever individual cricket net, and particularly to take it from an Australian in a double Ashes year. 26 hours is a big ask, but I am preparing as best I can.
“More importantly, I want to raise as much awareness as possible about the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation. I’ve been to Rwanda myself to coach cricket and seen a huge enthusiasm for the game but a country sorely lacking in facilities. A new home of cricket in Rwanda – the first dedicated international standard pitch – would be a great boost to all the cricketers over there.
“I hope to raise £30,000 from the net session, which will contribute to our £600,000 goal.”
Alby is calling on local volunteers to act as witnesses (especially scorers, but anyone would be appreciated) as to complete the record; he requires two impartial people there at all times. He’s also very keen to speak to potential net bowlers for the rather antisocial 11pm slot onwards on Monday night.
To volunteer either as a witness or a net bowler: email worldrecordcricketnet@gmail.com, tweet @26hrCricketNet or visit http://worldrecordcricketnet.org/
And for more information about the overall project: http://www.rcsf.org.uk/