|
Cairns to capt MCC against NZ
24/04/2008 14:18 - (SA)
London - Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns will captain MCC in the opening match of the Black Caps tour of England in Arundel on Sunday.
Hard-hitting, pace bowling all-rounder Cairns, 37, who retired from international cricket two years ago after playing 62 Tests and 215 one-dayers, is one of three New Zealanders in the MCC side.
The others are dynamic batsman and medium-pacer Nathan Astle, who appeared in 81 Tests and 223 one-day internationals before retiring from international and first-class cricket last year and Auckland batsman Rob Nicol.
Steve Elworthy, the former South Africa fast bowler who is now in England in his role as tournament director for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, is also in the MCC side as is Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Ervine.
The MCC team also features several ex-England players in recently retired Kent left-arm spinner Min Patel, Leicestershire wicket-keeper Paul Nixon and John Stephenson, now MCC's head of cricket.
'Cricketing calendar'
Former Surrey and Nottinghamshire batsman Darren Bicknell, fresh from scoring 132 not out for MCC against Scotland at Lord's in a match where a pink cricket ball was trialled, will again open the innings for MCC.
"Touring team matches are always a highlight in the MCC cricketing calendar and Arundel is a fantastic place to play cricket," said Stephenson on Thursday.
"It promises to be a great day for players and spectators alike and, hopefully, an international scalp in the bag for the club."
The Arundel ground in southern England, which is set in the grounds of Arundel Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Norfolk, has traditionally staged the opening match of an international team's tour of England.
New Zealand, who earlier this year beat England 3-1 in a one-day series before losing 2-1 in a three-match Test campaign on home soil, are due to play three Tests, one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals on their tour.
After their one-day match against MCC, they face Kent in a three-day match starting on April 28.
Four-day games against Essex (May 2-5) and England Lions, the national A side at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground (May 8-11) follow before the first Test at Lord's starts on May 15.
MCC team to play New Zealand.
Darren Bicknell, Hylton Ackerman, Richard Montgomerie, Rob Nicol, Nathan Astle, Sean Ervine, Chris Cairns (capt), John Stephenson, Paul Nixon (wkt), Steve Elworthy, Min Patel.
|
Rugby
