MCC to tour Papua New Guinea and New Zealand

Date released: 23 February 2007

A seventeen-man squad representing Marylebone Cricket Club - the world’s most active cricket playing club - will depart from London on Sunday afternoon, bound for a three-week tour of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The squad includes Geraint Jones (right), the Kent and England wicket-keeper, his county colleague - and England ‘A’ off-spinner - James Tredwell, as well as three members of the Glamorgan CCC first team - Michael Powell (batsman), David Harrison (fast bowler) and wicket-keeper / batsman Mark Wallace. Also in the party are Mark Lawson, the Yorkshire and England U-19 wrist spinner, and Simon Hawk, formerly of the Durham MCC University Centre of Cricketing Excellence.

The squad heads first for Papua New Guinea - where Geraint Jones was born - for three matches against the national side, including one Twenty20 encounter. The players will then transfer to Christchurch and Queenstown, New Zealand, where they will contest four matches, before moving on to Auckland for the final two-day game of the tour.

Geraint Jones said: “I am really looking forward to visiting Papua New Guinea and New Zealand with MCC. I’m back among the runs at club level and am hoping to make some more on tour. I believe the England wicket-keeper’s job is still up for grabs and scoring runs for MCC, and for Kent, can put my name in the frame.”

MCC’s Head of Cricket, John Stephenson (right), said: “I am delighted that so many professional players, including Geraint Jones, have made themselves available for this tour. I’m sure that the younger guys will enjoy playing alongside such experienced cricketers, and will benefit greatly from it.”

MCC last toured New Zealand in 2002, and Papua New Guinea in 2003. The Club will donate $3,750, in partnership with the International Cricket Council, to the authorities in Papua New Guinea for investment in the local cricket infrastructure.

The tour party in full is:

• Mark Rollinson (manager)
• Luke Marshall (captain)
• Ben Claypole
• Danny Evans (Middlesex CCC)
• Matthew Eyles
• David Harrison (Glamorgan CCC, England A)
• Simon Hawk (ex-Durham UCCE)
• Geraint Jones (Kent CCC, England)
• Ronnie Kotkamp
• Mark Lawson (Yorkshire CCC, England U-19s)
• Scott McHardy
• Michael Powell (Glamorgan CCC)
• James Tredwell (Kent CCC, England A)
• Mark Wallace (Glamorgan CCC, England U-19s)
• Peter Heseltine (physio)
• Barrie Leadbeater (umpire)
• Don Shelley (scorer)

For the full list of tour fixtures, please click here.