It's not cricket

Brit to cycle to Ashes

Since the moment England captain Andrew Strauss lifted aloft the tiny trophy in that glorious late August sunshine, the Australian cricket board began planning how to prise cricket's most famous trophy back from their traditional rivals. This, however, was not the only countdown to be set in motion that day: one Briton's love of the game has inspired him to embark on a staggering 15,500 mile bicycle quest to witness the first ball of the next Ashes series in November 2010 in Brisbane.

Oliver Broom's bid to raise £100,000 for charity as well as spreading the joys of cricket as he passes through 28 countries on his 'Cycling to the Ashes' mission, begins on October 10th. The 29-year-old chartered surveyor will set off on his 14-month marathon from outside the 'Home of Cricket', the Lord's Cricket Ground in north London.

Broom's motivation for such a monumental journey goes deeper than just a desire to show his love for the ol' bat-and-ball – he was inspired by an old school friend, James Taylor, from Radley College, in Oxfordshire, who was paralysed from the chest down after breaking a bone in his neck on holiday in 2005. "What happened to James made me wonder if I was making the most of every day," said Broom.

Broom will be riding on behalf of two charities, the British Neurological Research Trust and the Lord's Taverners, dedicated to the development of grass-roots cricket.

The Berkshire-born cyclist will set off from Lord's accompanied by 10 friends who will ride with him to Dover, but from then on he will journey solo with only the assistance of his bike and his trusty cricket bat.

The planned route takes Broom across Europe to Istanbul, then through Syria to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. After a sea crossing to India, Broom then plans to refuel his cricketing appetite by catching some Indian Premier League action, before heading to Australia via Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Along the journey, he will be looking to meet up with local cricketers in such unlikely places as Croatia, and encourage people to start learning the game in countries including Syria. Despite having raised a few eyebrows dreaming up the trek, endorsement could not have come from a man with better judgement - England skipper and Old Radleian himself, Andrew Strauss. "I've known Oli since our school days and can vouch for his sanity. I look forward to seeing him on his bike in Brisbane!"

You can follow Oliver Broom's journey here: http://cyclingtotheashes.co.uk or via Twitter: http://twitter.com/cycletotheashes