Former YCs at ICC World T20

Date released: 5 June 2009

Seven former MCC Young Cricketers will represent their countries during the ICC World Twenty20 which begins on Friday.

Ireland captain Porterfield should be familiar with Lord's Ireland’s captain Will Porterfield will be joined by his fellow countrymen wicket-keeper Gary Wilson and all-rounder Kevin O'Brien, Darren Sammy will turn out for the West Indies, Daan van Bunge will represent the Netherlands, Mahmudullah plays for Bangladesh and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor will hope to set the tournament alight with some of his trademark explosive batting.

Taylor's big-hitting is ideally suited to T20 Taylor - a YC in 2002 - has already showed promising form with 41 off 33 balls during New Zealand’s victory over India in their warm-up match at Lord’s.

Porterfield also led Ireland to a last-gasp "elimintaor over" victory against the Netherlands at The Home of Cricket.

With Lord’s hosting the ICC World Twenty20, the current crop of YCs are now on a break from competitive cricket and will instead be providing net opposition to the international teams playing at Lord’s.

Keeping in touch: Ireland Gary Wilson MCC Head Coach Mark Alleyne said: "During the tournament the YCs will have a hefty workload bowling in nearly 30 net sessions. It will be a great experience for these guys to bowl against the world’s best batsmen in the Lord’s nets.

"Coming up against Kevin Pietersen, Brendon McCullum, Graeme Smith and Shahid Afridi, who are all playing at Lord’s during the early stages of the tournament, means our bowlers will have to be on top form."

When not helping the international teams in their practice sessions, the YCs squad will assist the MCC ground staff throughout the tournament.

As Daan van Bunge walks out for the Netherlands against England for the opening match at Lord’s, he knows he will have 18 envious young onlookers hoping to one day follow in his footsteps from MCC Young Cricketer to fully fledged international.