Influential cricketers tour Cyprus with MCC

The MCC embarks on its fifth and final tour of 2007 this week and the chosen destination for the team is ICC Affiliate Member Cyprus.

The MCC team will include some influential cricketing figures including ICC European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth, Warwickshire CCC Academy Director Richard Cox, and the former England Captain Mike Gatting who has just taken up a new role with the ECB as Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships.

This is the first time that MCC have toured to Cyprus and the team will play three 50 over matches at two different grounds against three different Cypriot teams.

The MCC’s first challenge is to face the Cyprus National Team on Saturday 13th October at Dhekelia Garrison.

The following day, Sunday 14th, the side will take on a “Best of Cyprus” XI at Happy Valley, Episkopi.

The third and final match is against a British Forces Combined Services Team at the Happy Valley ground on Wednesday 17th October.

On Monday afternoon 15th October young cricketers are invited to a free Coaching Session with the MCC Players at Happy Valley. The MCC players will be there to offer expert advice and at the same time anyone who is interested in umpiring or learning how to score will be able to seek help and advice from the MCC official umpire and scorer.

Cricket in Cyprus has been developing steadily in recent years.

The Cyprus Cricket Committee has been working hard to establish Cyprus on the World Cricketing Map and the MCC tour will surely help to further develop the game there.

Earlier this year the Cyprus National Team competed in the ICC European Division 3 in Belgium in August beating Belgium and Finland, and the Cyprus Under 15 squad gained experience playing in a European Tournament in Spain.

Other destinations that MCC has toured in 2007 include Papua New Guinea & New Zealand, Brazil & Chile, Belgium and Tanzania & Malawi.