Essex Cricket joins Ford for Model T birthday

Centurion met centenarian today when former Essex and England captain Graham Gooch OBE helped celebrate 100 years of the Ford Model T.

Launching the 2008 cricket season at the Ford County Ground, home of Essex County Cricket Club, Gooch was joined by a Model T from the Essex-based Ford Heritage Collection.

This year marks the centenary of the car "that put the world on wheels". From 1908 to 1927, over 16 million Model T cars and trucks rolled off Ford production lines.

Pioneering the use of moving production lines, Henry Ford built a complete car in 93 minutes – meaning one completed vehicle left the line every 10 seconds. During the early 1920s over half the cars in the world were Model Ts and in 1923 a record breaking 2,011,125 Model T cars were produced.

Like the Model T, Gooch is no stranger to big numbers. He holds the title of the most prolific batsman after scoring over 67,000 runs in first-class and A-list matches and 8,900 runs in England test matches. And he is recognised by the Lord's Taverners cricketing charity as one of only nine living centurions, players who have scored 100 centuries in first-class cricket.

As well as being Essex Batting Coach and Club Ambassador Gooch is a major supporter of the Essex Cricket Academy which aims to nurture young talent in cricket.

Mark Ovenden, marketing director, Ford of Britain said: "It is fitting that Ford and Essex cricket have such close links when you consider the similarities. Both enjoy a glorious past and an exciting future. And both recognise the importance of heritage leading to success."

Essex County Cricket Club Chief Executive David East said: "We remain delighted with our continuing relationship with Ford. Essex County Cricket Club is proud to be associated with an organisation with so much history in the county."