Ramprakash and Tremlett to play for MCC in Abu Dhabi

26 January 2010

Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash will get an early start on the 2010 season after being selected to play for the MCC in the traditional season opener against County Champions Durham.

For the first time ever the game will be played away from Lord’s, being staged under floodlights at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi as part of the ongoing trial into the implementation of day/night conditions within first-class cricket.

Ramps will be captained in the match by Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman – a former MCC Young Cricketer – and will play alongside the very well thought of young pair of James Taylor and Steven Finn.

Joining them in the side will be former Surrey opener Scott Newman, now with Middlesex and former England Internationals including Chris Tremlett - who signed for Surrey the day after the announcement was made - James Foster and Steve Kirby.

The game will take place from March 29th to April 1st, giving Ramps plenty of time to return home and reacclimatise for Surrey’s first LV County Championship match against Derbyshire at the Brit Oval from April 9th to 12th.

John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket and Manager of the MCC team to face Durham, said: “This is a traditional fixture, but there’s little else about this match that is traditional. It’s not just a contest between MCC and the Champion County, but a crucial step in researching the pink ball and first-class cricket under floodlights.

“We’re very pleased to be fielding an extremely talented MCC team in what will undoubtedly be a tough test against the strongest county in England. From speaking to our players in recent weeks, it’s clear there is a passion to play in this game: not only so they can kick-start their season but because they feel they can contribute to our wider research for the good of the game. We’re really looking forward to the match.”

Alex Gidman, MCC’s captain against Durham, said: “I was delighted to be invited to play in this match, and to be asked to captain is a huge privilege. My family have strong ties with MCC, and both myself and my brother Will spent time as MCC Young Cricketers, so I cannot wait to lead out the MCC team in such an historic fixture.

“Using pink balls under lights in a four-day, first-class match promises to be a very interesting experiment and certainly something that every player will be looking forward to being a part of.”

The full MCC side to play Durham at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is:

Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire)

Scott Newman (Middlesex)

David Sales (Northamptonshire)

Mark Ramprakash (Surrey)

Dawid Malan (Middlesex)

James Taylor (Leicestershire)

James Foster (Essex) +

James Middlebrook (Northamptonshire)

Chris Tremlett (Surrey)

Steve Kirby (Gloucestershire)

Steve Finn (Middlesex)