On Wednesday lunchtime, the second in the winter series of Cricket Lovers @ The Church Hall talks took place at St. Mary’s the Virgin Church, Bexley with much of the talk involving Daniel Bell-Drummond’s testimonial year.
Cricket benefits was the subject, broken into two segments. The first part was about the history of cricket benefits, and the second was how a benefit works, which focussed on the 2026 testimonial for the popular Kent cricketer, Daniel Bell-Drummond.
Colin Jarman talked through the history of Kent cricketers’ benefit seasons, right back to the first one with a benefit match at Town Malling over 150 years ago, until the most recent one for Joe Denly in 2019.
He brought in a selection of players benefit brochures and other memorabilia for the audience to peruse, and shared many anecdotes. He then took questions before handing over the microphone.
Nick Byers then took over explaining the logistics behind organising the year long event and sharing details of the events that have been organised thus far for Bell-Drummond’s season.
Over the years, the rules have changed and the term ‘benefit’ can no longer be used. It now has to be a testimonial year. Compliance rules mean that there is no longer a fixed period of service that has to be completed.
Also counties aren’t allowed to include any mention of a testimonial season in contracts or even unwritten promises to apply for one. Tax rules were changed in 2017, and even the opening of a bank account provided hurdles to leap. All testimonial seasons have to be approved by the ECB and PCA, but they are not allowed to offer advice.
One of the charities chosen by Bell-Drummond, that he wishes to support, is Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which is a UK charity dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in youngsters. This is particularly relevant to local Kent Premier cricket club, Bexley. Their first eleven wicket-keeper, Ben Aldred, collapsed due to an undiagnosed heart condition when in Australia a few years ago, and would have died had it not been for a passer-by who knew how to perform ‘compressions’ before an ambulance arrived.
Another charity, Iggy’s Fund, aims to protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of brain tumours and, working with other specialist charities, assist with advancing education and or research in the field of brain tumours. This charity was set up in memory of Kent and England fast bowler, Alan Igglesden who did great work in this field when diagnosed with a brain tumour up until he died.
Finally, Platform Cricket is a London-based registered charity that harnesses the power of cricket to support young people from disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds across inner-city London.
It will all kick off on Thursday 12th February with a Launch Lunch at the Mercure Hotel, Maidstone which has a theme of Kent Captains. Joining Bell-Drummond, affectionately known as DBD, will be Chris Cowdrey, Matthew Fleming and Sam Northeast, and the event will be hosted by David Fulton.
Other than that, events will include Golf Days, Quiz Nights, Cricket (of course), a Brewery Dinner, and a Pub Garden Party. It is planned to finish with a City Lunch in London. Full details of the events, charities, merchandise, contacts etcetera, can be found on www.dbd2026.com, which is an excellent website set up to promote the testimonial.
St. Mary’s the Virgin Church, Bexley hosts the next Cricket Lovers @ The Church Hall event on 18th February with Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace speaking. It’s expected to be a busy one and a 13:15 arrival for a 13:30 start is advised. For full details [email protected] can be contacted.