Howzat!

An English cricket club has created the world's biggest set of wickets - to beat a record set by the Aussies.

The giant 28 foot tall stumps were carved from a four-tonne log and were erected yesterday (fri)

at Toft Cricket Club, in Knutsford, Cheshire.

The club choose to beat the previous record - held by long times cricket rivals the Australians - to make the eight-and-a-half metre tall wickets (27.8 ft) to secure the world record.

The previous record is understood to have been held by the ‘Bat and Stumps' in Coostamundra, New South Wales, Australia, which stand at a meagre eight metres (26.2 ft) tall.

In preparation for celebrating 100 years in 2028, Toft Cricket Club is now hoping to raise £100,000 to replace its ‘ageing and crumbling pavilion', which was originally built in 1939.

The club has already raised over £1,000 on the Crowdfunder website.

Put on display on Thursday, May 1, the wickets are carved from four-tonne, 11-metre long, Douglas Fir logs.

They were created by chainsaw artist Andy Burgess in support of his local club.

Andy said: "This has been one of the most exciting - and technically challenging - pieces I've "
ever worked on.

"With the sheer height and weight of the stumps, it's hands down the biggest project I've taken on in terms of scale and logistics. "

"I've lived in Cheshire all my life, so to create something this monumental for my own community, and for the cricket club where my daughter plays, has been a real honour." "

Nigel Muirhead, club chairman of Toft Cricket Club, said: "We wanted to create something truly memorable. "

"These giant stumps are a symbol of the huge role cricket plays not just here in Knutsford, but in the lives of millions of fans around the world. "

"We're hugely grateful for the time, energy and craftsmanship Andy and the team have poured into this project. "

"The pavilion's a hub for the whole community, with over 150 events being held last year."

"Updating the pavilion is part of our wider ambition to keep building something lasting for future generations. "

"We'd love people to come down and see the stumps for themselves." "

The stumps are set to remain over the summer before being ceremonially burned in what's hoped to be the ‘world's biggest ashes' on bonfire night.

Donation link here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-worlds-biggest-wickets