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MCC embark on historic tour of Brazil with both men’s and women’s squads

Posted: 30 October 2025

MCC has announced the squads for a landmark tour of Brazil, which will see men’s and women’s teams touring simultaneously for the first time in the Club’s history.

The trip, which is the final MCC overseas tour of the year, begins this week with both squads travelling to Brazil and following the same itinerary of activity.

The teams will participate in the South American Cricket Championships as part of the trip, with the men’s tournament being held for the 20th time, and the 15th edition of the women’s tournament taking place.

The championships will be held at the São Fernando Cricket Club, situated in Itaguaí, around 45 miles west of Rio de Janeiro, where MCC will face Brazilian and Argentinian national sides amongst various other opponents.

The tour party will then travel north-west to Poços de Caldas, one of the hotbeds of cricket in the country, where they will visit various cricketing projects, designed to aid the development of the sport. The action will then continue with matches at the Poços Ground, before MCC head south to São Paulo where the tour will conclude with matches at the São Paulo Athletic Club.

The men’s team will be captained by the former Kent all-rounder Adam Ball and will include further first-class experience in the shape of Eddie Ballard, Niel Botha, Zain Shahzad, Vishal Tripathi and Alex Wyatt. The squad will be managed by Mark O’Leary, an Assistant Coach at Glamorgan who is the former Head Coach of Cardiff MCCU.

Managing the women’s squad is former England batter Claire Taylor, who recently ended a six-year stint as Chair of Cricket for MCC. The squad, captained by Hazel Lovegrove, includes Gayatri Gole and Finty Trussler of Middlesex, and seamer Phoebe Graham who plays for both Lancashire and Manchester Originals. Christina Gough has played over 50 T20 Internationals for Germany, including against Brazil back in 2022.

Brazil’s women are ranked 35th in the world in T20Is and are the defending champions of the South American Championship, having won their sixth title in 2024. They recently won a T20I tri-series with the Isle of Man and Jersey, held in Leeds, and will face MCC in both Itaguaí and Poços de Caldas.

The men, ranked 83rd in the world, will be in T20I action for the first time since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifiers in Argentina and will play MCC as part of the programme at the South American Championships.

Men’s Tour Manager Mark O’Leary said: “Overseas touring is a huge part of MCC’s commitment in assisting and helping cricket development around the world.

“The tourists will play and coach in three destinations, working closely with the Brazil Cricket Association to have a meaningful impact across the grassroots and representative levels of the game.

“This will be a trip of a lifetime for all involved with the tour, as many friends and cricket links will be made and will continue”.

Tour Manager of the Women's squad Claire Taylor said: "We're looking forward to heading off to Brazil on the first tour to South American for an MCC Women's team and the first joint tour with a men's team.

"It will be a great opportuity for the tourists to play some high quality cricket against Associate Nations, as well as helping with coaching and development projects."

Fixtures

Saturday 1 November (South American Championships)
MCC Women v Argentina A Women (x2 T20 matches)
MCC Men v Panama (T20)
MCC Men vs Mexico (T20)
São Fernando Cricket Club

Sunday 2 November (South American Championships)
MCC Women v South America Women (T20 match)
MCC Men v Peru (T20 match)
Plus South American Championship Finals
São Fernando Cricket Club

Monday 3 November (South American Championships)
Brazil Women v MCC Women (x2 T20 matches)
Brazil Men v MCC Men (x2 T20 matches)
Poços Ground

Thursday 6 November
Brazil Women v MCC Women (30 over match)
Cricket Poços de Caldas v MCC Men (30 over match)
Poços Ground

Friday 7 November
Brazil Women v MCC Women (T20 match)
Poços Ground

Sunday 9 November
São Paulo Cricket v MCC Men (30 over match)
São Paulo Athletic Club

Squads:
MCC Men: Adam Ball (c), Eddie Ballard, Oliver Birts, Niel Botha, Garth Davson, Viraj Gandhi, Nicholas Hammond, Jamie Mills, Grant Reingold, Ricky Reynolds, Zain Shahzad, Vishal Tripathi, Alex Wyatt, Mark O'Leary (Tour Manager), Simon Cooper (Umpire).

MCC Women: Hazel Lovegrove (c), Madeleine Arthur, Gabby Basketter, Charlie Bawden, Imogen Brown, Sarah Ginn, Gayatri Gole, Emma Godman, Christina Gough, Phoebe Graham, Keely Juster, Genevieve Porter, Finty Trussler, Claire Taylor (Tour Manager), Grace Bambury (Umpire).