England’s cricketers honour the Missing in Flanders prior to the Ashes
Last updated 06/07/2009 18:20:26
England cricketers honour the Missing in Flanders prior to the Ashes
England's cricketers visited Flanders this weekend in the build up to this year's Ashes series that begins in July.
The team visited Ypres on Friday and three members of the team including Captain Andrew Strauss laid wreaths at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing during the Last Post Ceremony.
The team paid their respects to the fallen of WW1 by visiting Tyne Cot cemetery, where some 12,000 Commonwealth soldiers are buried. The squad also attended a memorial service at the Oxford Road Cemetery, where a stone cricket ball was laid on the grave of former England left arm-spinner Colin Blythe, who died at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.
England Captain Andrew Strauss said: "It's important to take a step back from cricket at times and this visit was a deeply moving and humbling experience for all of the players and management.
"We learned a great deal about the sacrifices made by a previous generation of England cricketers and I would like to thank the people of Ypres for making us so welcome."
Dawn Page, Director of Tourism Flanders-Brussels UK, who accompanied the team on their tour of the Flemish region, commented: "We are very proud that the English cricket team chose our region to visit as part of their preparations for the Ashes."
She went on to say: "I feel the whole team acquired a greater understanding of what it really means to stand side by side and fight for your country and we hope that their stay in Flanders will have refreshed their minds and will help strengthen the ties within the team who will go on to lead our country to victory against Australia in the Ashes."
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