Bob Willis Trophy final to be staged in association with Prostate Cancer UK

Former England great Willis, in whose honour the one-off competition has been named, died in December after a four-year battle with the illness at the age of 70

The Bob Willis Trophy final will take place in association with Prostate Cancer UK in an effort to raise awareness of the charity’s work.

Former England great Willis, in whose honour the one-off competition has been named, died in December after a four-year battle with the illness at the age of 70.

After a monthlong group phase that saw all 18 counties playing five games each in a shortened, coronavirus-disrupted summer, Somerset will face Essex in the final at Lord’s in a five-day game beginning on September 23.

Willis’ wife, Lauren Clark, and brother, David Willis, are advocates for Prostate Cancer UK and will both attend the final. Clark will present the trophy to the winning captain, having helped to design it.

Prostate Cancer UK chief executive Angela Culhane said: “We’re proud of our continued work across sport, and after the desperately sad news about Bob’s death last year, we’re immensely grateful to Lauren Clark and David Willis for helping us to make a real mark in cricket.

“It’s an honour for us to be part of the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy final, which is a fitting tribute to a man revered so much on and off the pitch and we also thank the ECB and all the counties for supporting us. We’re also grateful to Lauren and David that royalties of the book, Bob Willis, A Cricketer and a Gentleman, continue to come to us.

“Around 400,000 men are living with or after a prostate cancer diagnosis, and that number keeps rising. Now, for the first time ever, it has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK.

"Most men with early prostate cancer don't have any symptoms, so it's important not to wait until you notice something’s wrong.

“If men are at increased risk because they’re over 50, if they’re black, or if their dad or brother had it, they should call their GP to ask about the pros and cons of a PSA blood test. We’re also encouraging everyone to share our 30-second online risk checker.”

Fans are able to text BOB to 70004 to donate £10 to Prostate Cancer UK or click here