From The Telegraph and Argus

East Bierley stalwart Gavin Hamilton is missing his club’s start to the Bradford League season while on duty with the MCC in the Cayman Islands.

The ten-day trip features six limited-overs fixtures, including a 50-over contest and Twenty20 match against the Caribbean country’s national side.

Former England and Scotland international Hamilton is part of a strong 15-man MCC touring party, which is managed by former Glamorgan and Worcestershire batsman Stephen Henderson.

Hamilton will play alongside the likes of veteran former Surrey left-arm spinner Keith Medlycott and young Leicestershire all-rounder Will Jones.

Taking charge of officiating duties for the MCC throughout the tour matches is vastly experienced former first-class player and Test match umpire John Holder.

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson, said: “I am really pleased that Gavin has been selected for this tour and I am certain that he will be a great ambassador for the club.

“The destination of MCC overseas tours is constantly under discussion, with criteria ultimately focusing on where the club can assist with the development of the game and spread the MCC’s spirit of cricket message to a new audience.

“The Cayman Islands has therefore been carefully identified as an area which will currently benefit from an MCC tour.

“The Cayman Islands Cricket Association have done a good job at developing the game since the club last visited ten years ago and there now appears to be a real passion for cricket across the nation, so I am hopeful the MCC’s visit will provide a further positive contribution to this ongoing work.

“The tour schedule incorporates a good mix of competitive limited-overs cricket alongside several coaching sessions for local youngsters, which I am sure will help with the overall progression of the game across the islands.”

Cricket was first introduced to the Caymans in the early 1800s by British soldiers but it was not until 1970 that the game there became more organised, with a structured league being formed.

The MCC will also be touring France, Cyprus, Uganda and Rwanda this year.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10372969.Hamilton_an_MCC_ambassador_in_Cayman_Islands/

The results of the MCC tour of the Cayman Islands to date is 2-1 in MCC’s favour.

MCC won the first match at Smith Road Oval by 20 runs last Thursday.

A President’s XI defeated MCC by one run at the Jimmy Powell Oval in West Bay on Saturday

MCC won the third game against the Cayman national side in West Bay on Sunday by four wickets.

To play:

MCC face Village Greenies today (Tuesday, 23), over 40 overs at the Smith Road Oval from 12.30pm.

MCC face a Cayman Select side at Smith Road on Wednesday (24) in a Twenty20.

The final match is on Thursday against the Cayman National side at Jimmy Powell Oval, Twenty20, from 1pm.