The MCC
Founded in 1787, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is based at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground. Its role includes safeguarding the game’s laws and its spirit. The Club have also been heavily involved in the research into using the pink ball for day/night Tests.
The MCC’s team in 2015 included Alastair Cook and Yuvraj Singh. In previous years some genuine legends of the game have graced Dubai for the MCC including Sourav Ganguly, Chris Rogers, Rahul Dravid, Shaun Tait and Mark Ramprakash.
The MCC’s 2016 team includes Cook’s former England teammates Ian Bell and Graeme Onions. We would also be welcoming Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara had it not been for a late injury that has forced him to withdraw. Between these 3 stars the MCC boasts well in excess of a 500 first class appearances caps, including over 250 Test caps.
Key Players:
Ian Bell
England Batsman
If the final Test against Pakistan at Sharjah in November 2015 was Bell’s last in England colours he can look back with pride at 118 Test appearances, 161 in ODIs and 8 T20I caps. He has scored a combined 13,330 runs for his country and averaged 42.59 in Test cricket. Bell has vowed to fight for his international career however. That campaign starts in Dubai for the MCC.
As a teenager he was tipped for international honours and did not let those pundits down. Bell first played for England in August 2004 against West Indies. Shortly after the iconic 2005 Ashes series taught him what was required to stay in the side and he learned quickly. The highlight of many career highs was being named player of the 2013 Ashes series after scoring centuries in England’s three Test wins. He became the first to score three successive Ashes tons since Chris Broad in 1986. He was named player of the series.
TEAMS ∨
