Cricket countdown

Excitement is reaching fever pitch as the days draw closer to a Guinness World Record attempt at the Ladysmith Indoor Sports Complex on January 24, 25 and 26.
Interest has exceeded all expectations, say officials and members of the Northern Districts Cricket Union (NDCU) who will be hosting the event.
What is most promising is the weight thrown in by local business houses to bolster the efforts of the NDCU, the Department of Sport & Recreation, Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality, the Ladysmith Gazette and ABI.
Proceeds will be shared to help Child Welfare and to fight cancer.
An added bonus is the confirmation of local musical bands that will provide entertainment over that weekend.
‘The Expectations’ will kick off the foot-tapping scenario on Friday evening, January 24. They cater for musical inclinations of all ages.
Saturday evening will feature ‘Spank’ who have carved a niche for themselves, especially among the youth, and have built up a huge following in and around Ladysmith.
Ladysmith’s oldest band, the evergreen ‘Prakash Orchestra’ will bring the curtain down on the record-making event from Sunday afternoon until the official countdown.
It is common knowledge that the crowd will not sit at the cricket net for 50 hours.
They will expect other draw cards to keep themselves entertained and socially active.
To address this concern, the NDCU has allocated stalls to allow not only its affiliated clubs but also the public to market items to the public.
Those who wish to hire stall space should contact Rehaz Khan on 083-626-9721 or Mike Pillay on 083-689-0673.
The popular Rainbow Inflatables have kindly agreed to provide a Funland of activities that are sure to keep adults and children pleasantly occupied during the three-day medley of events surrounding the Bat-a-Thon.
Police and Public Safety officials, as well as Sharaj Ambulance crews, will ensure that patrons are catered for in a healthy sporting environment.
The NDCU has decided to bat! Public support is essential to umpire the activities to ensure that Ladysmith becomes synonymous with coming up with something different.
Thus far, the response on Twitter and Facebook from cricket fans all over the world has been phenomenal. Names like Dale Steyn, MS Dhoni, Bollywood starlet Katrina Kaif and other luminaries are regular visitors on the social network that has linked hundreds if not thousands to this first-time-ever Guinness World Record event right here in Emnambithi!
Another bit of good news is that both Goolam Bodi and Imraan Tahir will in all probability be present to bat during the Bat-a-Thon.
The only concern is the venue for their T20 match.
If it’s in Durban or Jo’burg, they will be present, but if it’s in Cape Town, then it will rule out their presence.
Be there and be part of a historic milestone!
More details will follow in forthcoming editions of the Gazette and Times.