MCC has today announced that it will be resuming its overseas touring programme later this month, by hosting a Spirit of Cricket Tournament at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground in Almería, Spain.
The men’s T20 tournament will bring together four European countries to participate – Austria, Germany, Italy and Spain, with MCC providing two strong squads and assisting with coaching sessions.
Overseas tours are a crucial part of the Club’s commitment to the global game and over the past 18 months, both the men’s and women’s touring programmes have been on hold due to the complications of overseas travel caused by Covid-19.
The Club had been due to visit the Czech Republic, Nepal, Spain and Uganda in 2020, having already toured Argentina and Pakistan in the early part of the year before the pandemic took hold.
The Club has received support from both ICC Europe and Cricket España, as well as the nations involved, in organising the tournament and is grateful to Sporta Tours and Desert Springs for arranging the logistics and hosting the event.
The tournament will be split into two separate stages – with MCC, Germany and Italy playing each other between 13 and 15 November, before Austria and Spain arrive in Almería to play another MCC team between 17 and 19 November.
The two MCC squads are made up of players who represent the Club throughout the course of the year. Chris Swallow and Thomas Rash are the captains of the respective sides, who will be managed by former Pakistan international Yasir Arafat and Paul Davidge. Marcus O’Riordan, of Kent, and Steven Reingold, who played for Glamorgan earlier this summer, are among the players involved.
Germany and Italy have most recently been playing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifiers at the same venue, whilst Austria and Spain were in T20 International action earlier this year.
"The quality of cricket will be of a high standard and bringing these nations together to face each other, and MCC, will be of great benefit to all involved"
MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket and Operations) Jamie Cox said: “Overseas touring is a vital part of the Club’s commitment to the growth of the global game, and we are thrilled to be able to restart our touring programme with this tournament in Spain.
“The quality of cricket will be of a high standard and bringing these nations together to face each other, and MCC, will be of great benefit to all involved. It also provides another opportunity for our Playing Members to represent the Club.”
The MCC touring programme for 2022 will be announced in due course.
The two MCC squads for the tournament are:
| To play germany and italy: |
to play austria and spain: |
YASIR aRAFAT (mANAGER/COACH)
cHRIS SWALLOW (CAPTAIN)
aman bailwal
mike coles
jamie crawley
christian davis
scott galloway
fionn hand
william hardie
james newland
marcus o'riordan
tharindu perera
toby pettman
robert peyton (wicketkeeper)
ian ramage (umpire)
brian rodwell (scorer) |
Paul Davidge (manager/coach)
thomas rash (captain)
daniel hogan
charles hurley
rob johnson
abeed janmohamed
andrew leering
umair mohammed
steven reingold
alex scott
ben shepperson
steve stacey
michael white (wicketkeeper)
james woodroof
david lees and (umpire)
andy scarlett (scorer) |
The fixtures for the tournament are as follows:
Saturday 13 November:
Italy v Germany, MCC v Germany
Sunday 14 November:
MCC v Italy, MCC v Germany
Monday 15 November:
Italy v Germany, Italy v MCC
Wednesday 17 November:
Austria v Spain, MCC v Austria
Thursday 18 November:
Spain v MCC, MCC v Austria
Friday 19 November:
Spain v Austria, Spain v MCC