MCC Touring Programme

Comprising of 15 players, the squad played six matches in Nepal against a variety of opposition and led on several coaching sessions both for local children and coaches themselves in Pokhara.

These sessions were run in conjunction the MCC Foundation (MCCF) – who have been working to deliver cricket to young people in Nepal since 2019, Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

The non-playing elements of the tour began with the running of an education session in which coaches were taught how to run engaging sessions and use coaching tools such as the use of questions, silence, praise, individual and group feedback.

A gender sensitisation workshop took place where the barriers which women and girls face in cricket and in wider society were discussed. Local players who were part of the MCCF programmes told of how cricket empowers them in a relatively conservative society.

The workshops, led by a gender specialist, form a core component of the Cricket for Equality project delivery in Biratnagar/East Nepal and serve as a method to facilitate discussion around gender-based norms and issues.

The squad also led coaching sessions with schoolchildren, with one group of players coaching academy players from Pokhara and Kaski, whilst three other groups headed to schools across Pokhara, where players came from schools that Kidasha – the local delivery partner of MCCF – work in.

There were between 60-80 young cricketers at each two-hour session, with an even split of boys and girls. At the conclusion of the tour, the squad donated kit and clothing to Kidasha and CWB to distribute across MCCF programmes in Pokhara and Biratnagar.

On the playing front, MCC won two of their six matches, with their first win coming against an ICC Under-19 XI in Kathmandu, which comprised of players from Malaysia, UAE, Bhutan, Qatar and hosts Nepal.

Former England international Claire Taylor, who was managing the tour, struck 97 from 66 balls as MCC made 175 for 3 in their 20 overs. The tourists then restricted their opponents to 159 for 4, despite an unbeaten 80 from 18 year-old UAE international Theertha Satish.

Taylor, who is Chair of the MCC Cricket committee and previously won 168 caps for her country, was making her 100^th appearance for the Club.

MCC also tasted victory in Pokhara against a CAN XI made up of players that were either from or had come through the local MCCF funded projects. Three wickets for Jo Foster helped bowl the Nepalese XI out for 66 before unbeaten knocks from Abbie Whybrow (30) and Rachael Potter (29) saw MCC win by 10 wickets.

There was also a low-scoring T20 thriller against Nepal in Pokhara. MCC had restricted their hosts to 99 for 9 and would have fancied a tilt at victory needing 22 from the final six deliveries with four wickets in hand, but an incredible last over from the experienced Rubina Chetri saw the seamer take four wickets in four balls as MCC were bowled out for 80.

Away from cricket, the squad visited the beautiful Boudhanath Stupa, experienced the Diwali festivities in Kathmandu, admired the scale of the Himalayas, and visited The Tal Barahi Temple on the Phewa Tal (lake) followed by a hike to the World Peace Pagoda Stupa.

They also visited Gurkha and Mountaineering museums and a traditional Tibetan village, attended singing bowl meditation sessions and yoga, and headed up the cable car to the Sarangkot for sunrise. A few also braved the airways to paraglide over the Annapurna range and used the last morning in Kathmandu to fly past Everest.

MCC embarked on a two-week tour of Uganda, the first time MCC had toured the country since 2013. A squad of 13, captained by George Thurstance and managed by Simon Hinks, played six matches across a range of formats.

The players were selected from the National Counties network to compete with Uganda, who are currently ranked 24^th in the ICC Men’s T20 International rankings ahead of the likes of Italy, Kenya and the United States.

The side was beaten by a Uganda XI in the opening game of the tour but rallied to win the remaining games against Uganda Under-19’s, Ceylon CC, a Developmental Invitational XI and a Chairman’s XI, as well as victory over the Uganda XI in a two-day match. As with all of MCC’s tours, the squad spent time coaching aspiring age-group youngsters and local schoolchildren.

The Italy tour was hosted by Federazione Cricket Italiana and comprised seven matches in 11 days, including three T20 matches against the Italian national side. MCC then played 40 over games against club side Roma Capannelle and a President’s XI, before rounding off the trip with two 50 over matches against Italy Under-19’s.

Former MCC Young Cricketer, Middlesex and England cricketer and international umpire Ian Gould was manager of the 13-man squad, which consisted of players from the National Counties Cricket Association and ECB Premier Leagues and was skippered by Sam Arthurton.

MCC won all of their fixtures – apart from one rain-affected match – and spent time coaching in schools in Rome, before moving on to Bologna where the squad opened a new ground.

A squad departed for Romania in May 2022, where MCC played four T20 matches against Cricket Romania. All four games will take place at the Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground in Bucharest, a ground that has been hosting T20 International cricket since 2019.

Doug Mulholland, who represents Great Ayton in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League, was the captain for the Romanian tour, with Mark Langford managing the side.

MCC embarked on two European summer tours and the initial trip to Serbia saw MCC play five T20 matches in their seven-day tour, including matches against the Serbian National Team and the Belgrade Cricket Association.

As with any MCC tour, part of the commitment to the country is to provide coaching sessions with local children and the squad will be doing so at Belgrade Fortress, ahead of their first match.

Toby Drummond, who plays for Toft in the Cheshire Premier League, captained MCC in Serbia, whilst Jean-Paul Rees was the Team Manager.