Cricket legend backs memorial match for Covid victim
One of cricket's most celebrated batsmen says an annual memorial match is helping a family celebrate the life of a much-loved player while bringing people together.Lee Nurse, a former captain of both Basingstoke and Finchampstead Cricket Clubs, died in hospital with Covid-19 aged 43 in April 2020.AdvertisementThe annual Lee Nurse Memorial Match takes place at May's Bounty in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Sunday, with West Indies and Hampshire legend Sir Gordon Greenidge attending as guest of honour.Sir Gordon said he continues to back the event because of his longstanding friendship with the family and the way it keeps Nurse's memory alive.He said, "People grieve in different ways and this is probably one of the ways that they actually sort of grieve themselves, keeping the memory of the young man going."Sir Gordon is set to join players and supporters at the match, the former West Indies opening batsman said he had known the family since his days with Hampshire, when matches were regularly played at May's Bounty.Advertisement"The whole family's been a friend for years," he said.He said he had tried to support the event over the years, helping to raise funds while also backing the family's efforts to honour Nurse's memory.Nurse started playing at the ground in Basingstoke when he was eight years old. He was Finchampstead captain for the 2006 and 2007 seasons and also played for Berkshire County Cricket Club for many years.Sir Gordon praised the annual match as a way of bringing people together and giving supporters a chance to show their support for the Nurse family."Things like this help the family as well too get over those [difficult] times," he said.Advertisement"It'll be nice that it's a lovely day. Hopefully a lot of people will be there to come and give their support, just being there and also to join in the activities."Sir Gordon's own cricket journey in England began after moving to Reading at the age of 14.While playing in Berkshire, he was spotted by a scout and invited for a trial with Hampshire."I was asked if I would like to come down to Hampshire for a trial and I said yes," he said."As I say, the rest is history."More on this storyMemorial matches held for Covid death cricketer'My dad was one of Covid-19's first victims''Our last words were that we loved each other'Related internet links
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