Blowers called up to State of Play Dinner

Iconic Sports Journalist and Cricket commentator Henry Blofeld has responded to the call and will take the place of fellow Test Match Special host Christopher Martin-Jenkins at Kent Cricket’s State of Play Dinner.

The black tie event is to be held at the redeveloped St Lawrence Ground Canterbury, to mark the start of the 2012 County Cricket season. As the inaugural speaker Martin-Jenkins was to deliver his assessment of the current state of the game of cricket, both domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, due to illness, he has had to withdraw from the event. His place has been taken by Blofeld.

Henry Blofeld kept wicket for Norfolk in Minor Counties cricket at the age of 16, was afine schoolboy prospect at Eton and made a hundred at Lord's for the Public Schools against the Combined Services. At Cambridge University he won a Blue and scored a first-class century at Lord's against MCC. His playingcareer, however, never really recovered from suffering serious injury when a bus knocked him from his bicycle towards the end of his schooldays, an incident which threatened his life, and it is as a cricket broadcaster and journalistthat he has become famous. Since 1974, and apart from a brief sojourn to Sky television, Henryhas been an inimitable presence on BBC Radio's Test Match Special programme and his flamboyant and ofteneccentric commentating style has invited many impersonations… none of them quite like 'Blowers', the original.

His links to Kent can be traced back to his school boy days and the match against Combined Services, in 1956. Another century maker that day, within the Public Schools team, was one of Kent’s favourite sons, Colin Cowdrey.

The State of Play Dinner is to be held in the Harris Room, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, Thursday 29 March. Places are still available, with tables of ten selling for £850.00, inclusive of a five course meal and all wine, beers and non-alcoholic drinks included in the price. Individual tickets £100.00. Bookings can be made by emailing – alan.hilliker.kent@ecb.co.uk.