COLIN BATEMAN, DAVID LLOYD and IAN TODD preparing for 'tour de counties'

NEWS filters through of yet another ICC tour, but the only fatigue this one will cause will be to journalists not players. A small band of foolhardy scribblers are setting off on an Inter-County Cycle for charity later this summer around all 18 first class county headquarters, pedalling from the Brit Oval to Lord's the long way round.

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The Inter-County Cycle idea was that of Colin Bateman (Daily Express cricket correspondent) who, together with David Lloyd, the London Evening Standard cricket man, and Ian Todd (former Sun cricket writer), has undertaken a few hauls before.

The trio and another friend caught the bike-bug cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End a few years ago. They then tackled a similar trek from the top-to-bottom of France and have done a circular tour of Ireland fuelled by Guinness and Irish stew.

Looking for another challenge and with their numbers bolstered to six with two more companions, they have decided to undertake this unique challenge, a circular route of more than 1,000 miles around the cricket shires of England - and Wales - in 16 days in mid-September.

Starting at the Oval on Sept 13, they head east to Canterbury, then along the south coast and so on in a clockwise direction around the 18 major grounds in the country with their worldly belongings and puncture kits packed in panniers and no support cars to pick up the pieces.

Masochistically they call this fun, but they are also putting their efforts to good use by raising money through sponsorship for two cricket-related cancer charities.

One is the Laurie Engel Fund, which is part of the Teenage Cancer Trust. This fund was set up to build a special unit for youngsters by former Wisden Almanack editor and Guardian cricket writer Matthew Engel in memory of his son.

The other is Heads Up, a research programme into cancers of the head and neck whose patron is Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England cricket team who has fought throat cancer.

If you would like to support the hack pack on their bikes, you can donate via the following websites:

www.justgiving.com/colinbateman

www.justgiving.com/davidtofflloyd

Itinerary

Sept 13: Brit Oval to Canterbury

Sept 14: Canterbury-Hove

Sept 15: Hove-Romsey via the Rose Bowl

Sept 16: Romsey-Montacute (no ground that day)

Sept 17: Montacute-Taunton-Bristol

Sept 18: Bristol-Cardiff-Monmouth

Sept 19: Monmouth-Worcester

Sept 20: Wocester-Edgbaston-Stafford

Sept 21: Stafford-Old Trafford

Sept 22: Manchester-Hawes (no ground)

Sept 23: Hawes-Chester-le-Street-Durham

Sept 24: Durham-Headingley

Sept 25: Headingley-Derby

Sept 26: Derby-Nottingham-Leicester-Moulton

Sept 27: Moulton-Northampton-Bishops Stortford

Sept 28: Bishops Stortford-Chelmsford-Lord's.

CHARLIE SAYS: Hacks pedal a few things in their time, but this is a worthy effort by good press box companions Colin and David. Please support the charities if you can.