An 18-year-old English cricket fanatic is on a remarkable journey from Manchester to Adelaide for the third Ashes Test, traveling entirely by land or sea. Tommy Lamb has already traversed 21 countries in over 100 days, with no planes allowed.
Lamb's odyssey began in England, taking him through Western Europe, the Balkans, Türkiye, Iran, Pakistan, China, and into Southeast Asia. He is currently in Singapore, seeking passage to Indonesia by boat.
Inspired by a story his father told about Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler's 1970s trip, Lamb decided to combine his love of travel and cricket. He aims to join his parents, both members of the Barmy Army, at Adelaide Oval.
Lamb carries a cricket bat in his backpack and plays a game in every country he visits. Despite receiving strange looks, he has enjoyed impromptu matches, including one with a border guard in Albania.
The journey has not been without peril. In Vietnam, Lamb suffered a fractured skull and broken nose in a motorcycle accident. He spent several days in hospital but said telling his mother was the most nerve-racking part.
Lamb has been documenting his travels on Instagram, sharing both the highs and lows. He described Iran as a beautiful place with beautiful people, contrasting sharply with his experience in Pakistan's Balochistan province, where he was shuffled between police vehicles and slept in cells due to security concerns.
