Manchester agency driven has created a new cricketing world record for North West village cricket club, Toft CC.
Based on the outskirts of Knutsford, the club is now proudly displaying the World’s Biggest Wickets – and they’re creating quite a stir with passers-by on the A50.
Graham Drury, partner at driven, said: “We wanted to do something to put Toft on the map. It’s ridiculously ambitious for a village team that’s run by volunteers to build the World’s Biggest Wickets. We’re thrilled that together with master wood sculptor Andy Burgess we’ve managed to pull it off. Like all great ideas, it has a clever simplicity which really captures the imagination. In fact, it’s stopping traffic!”
The record-breaking idea was presented to Toft CC Chairman Nigel Muirhead several months ago: “As soon as Graham shared the idea I thought we’ve just got to do it” he said, “I couldn’t get it out of my head. What a way to grow awareness for the club and help our fundraising drive for a new pavilion. The World’s Biggest Wickets is like cricket’s version of the Angel of the North. Trust me, it’s well worth the visit.”
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The sculpture, which stands at 8.5m tall, breaks a 50-year-old record held in New South Wales, Australia at the Don Bradman Oval.
“Not only are our wickets taller, they’re also a perfectly in scale which creates a beautiful spectacle” added Muirhead.
The stumps were made over the last 3 months from pre-felled Douglas Fir tree trunks that weighed four tonnes each. It took a team of over 50 people to create and install the sculpture.
Visitors are now invited to come down and take photos, then donate to Toft CC’s crowdfunder for a new pavilion at crowdfunder.
“It’s given the club a real sense of pride and you can see it means so much to them get one over on the Aussies, especially in an Ashes year. Now, the plan is to burn the bails in November, creating the “World’s Biggest Ashes” before the England team sets off for Australia,” Drury added.
The World’s Biggest Wickets is open to the public 24/7 at Toft Cricket Club, near Knutsford.
