Warne and Hurley host T20 charity match... and injured duo KP and Clarke were there

By MIKE DAWES

Published: 13:13 EDT, 9 June 2013 | Updated: 13:13 EDT, 9 June 2013

Shane Warne celebrated the start of the 2013 Ashes season with cricketing greats from around the world on Sunday in a charity event he hosted along with partner Liz Hurley.

The couple hosted an all-star charity 20/20 match at Cirencester Cricket Club with stars including Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Darren Gough and Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Both Pietersen and Clarke are on the road to recovery from injury in time for the Ashes but found time in their schedules for Sunday's charity event.

All smiles: Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan took each other on in a charity T20 match on Sunday

Still got it: Vaughan clips the ball away through mid wicket

Road to recovery: Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke were both at the event on Sunday

Joint venture: Warne hosted the charity event along with partner Liz Hurley

A team of English stalwarts, led by Michael Vaughan, played an Australian side led by Shane Warne in the game, which was in aid of the Hop, Skip and Jump Foundation and the Shane Warne Foundation.

The Cricket for Kids match was umpired by former England captain David Gower.

More than 3,000 spectators, who paid £45 for tickets to the sell-out event, were also treated to bouncy castles and a mini village with food and shopping at the club, in Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire.

Two non-cricketing professionals paid £5,500 and £4,000 to play in the England and Australian side respectively.

Appearance: Ex-England captain Andrew Strauss

Stretch: Darren Gough and Pietersen

Up in the air: Dimitri Mascarenhas takes a swing at a delivery

Captain's club: Vaughan and Strauss bat together

Iconic: Australian Merv Hughes

In a statement, Warne and Hurley said their first co-hosted charity event would help 'those less fortunate than ourselves'.

They said: 'The Shane Warne Foundation and Hop, Skip and Jump have helped countless children to live better lives and, after today, they will be able to help a lot more.'

The match kicked off at around 3pm. At tea, Australia were 208 for seven.

Shane Warne took the tea break to grant a wish to seriously ill Ishpal Singh, 18, from Wembley. Mr Singh had his wish to be bowled at by Shane Warne, thanks to the Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity.

Howzat? Warne runs in to bowl in front of umpire Hurley

Good cause: The event took place at Cirencester for the Hop, Skip and Jump Foundation

He said: 'It was absolutely amazing, Shane was so nice and the rest of the team were too. I was so nervous I was shaking, I still am now.'

Andrew Strauss, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Alan Mullally, Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Mark Nicholas, Paul Nixon, Jeremy Snape, Shaun Udal, Darren Gough, and Ian Ward, made up the England team.

The Australian team featured Shane Warne, Mervyn Hughes, Ian Harvey, Damien Martyn, Michael Di Venuto, Michael Klinger, David Saker, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, and Tom Moody.

Appeal: Australia batsman Damien Martyn

Duo: Paul Nixon and Jeremy Snape

Power: England bowling coach David Saker connects with a delivery

Over the wicket: Tom Moody in action

Maximum: Umpire Allan Lamb signals a six

Clarissa Mitchell, founder trustee of the Hop, Skip & Jump Foundation, said the all-star cricketing cast was 'immensely touching'.

She said: 'The fact that everyone has given up their time for this event is immensely touching, not just for the Foundation but for the families we work with too. We are in desperate need of funding and money raised from today will be incredibly useful.'

Nick Price, chairman of Cirencester Cricket Club, said the event was 'highly exciting'.

He said: 'It is wonderful to have so many from the cricketing world here. It is fantastic for the town, fantastic for the club and also for the young men who are able to watch the players they look up to.'