Sky Sports sponsor new Ashes photo exhibition

8 June 2005

Mike Gatting succumbs to that famous ball from Shane Warne in one of the Ashes pics at the exhibition © Steve Lindsell / Getty Images

Sky Sports will sponsor a new photographic exhibition staged by the Lord's Taverners and launched this Saturday at the Hampshire Rose Bowl.

The exhibition displays some of the finest images from over 100 years of Ashes cricket and will travel to over 20 different locations - including all first class county grounds and each match in The NatWest Series - during the next six weeks.

The official exhibition party takes place at the Botley Park Hotel on Sunday and will be attended by the England team.

Sky Sports' sponsorship will be celebrated by a selection of behind-the-scenes images specially commissioned for the exhibition and taken at the second npower Test match at Riverside on Friday June 3.

Great cricket fan Mick Jagger, captured in a classic Ashes pic © Central Press / Getty Images

The pictures will be displayed alongside the exhibition and provide a unique insight into the live broadcast of a Test match. They feature shots of the Sky Sports commentary team including Ian Botham, David Gower, Nasser Hussain and Bob Willis.

Mark Williams, chief executive of the Lord's Taverners, said: "Sky Sports' support of the exhibition is a fantastic boost to the Taverners and will greatly assist us in displaying some of the finest cricket imagery around the country. I'm sure that visitors will also enjoy the Sky Sports section of the gallery which gives a fascinating view of a live cricket outside broadcast."

Sky Sports has been a long term supporter of the Lord's Taverners having previously sponsored several events and initiatives.

The exhibition is a pictorial account of Ashes cricket since the 1880s and features images such as Don Bradman's final dismissal, Ian Botham's heroics in 1981 and Steve Waugh's hundredth century at the SCG in 2003. A replica MCC Ashes urn will also be displayed.

Exhibition visitors are encouraged to make a donation to the Taverners, who recently announced a five year £1m commitment to the Cricket Foundation's 'Chance to shine' initiative.

Each exhibition viewing will be preceded by a leg of the Ashes Walk, which usually ends at the 1st class county ground and will include a host of celebrities walking the length and breadth of the country to raise money for those with special needs.

For those seeking further information on the Walk and other Lord's Taverners fundraising initiatives should go to Ashes Walk