Sussex to face strong MCC outfit

The MCC squad for the English season's traditional curtain raiser against the County Champions, Sussex, has been announced and will be captained by Ed Joyce. The match, to be held on April 10-13, will see a number of fringe England players as well as rising young talent represent the MCC. There was no place, however, for Andrew Flintoff.

As ever, the hotly-debated wicketkeeper's position will again come under scrutiny this season, though Tim Ambrose - who took over the gloves in the winter from Matt Prior - impressed with 102 in his second Test against New Zealand and, barring injury, should keep the gloves for New Zealand's return trip here next month. Chris Read kept wicket for MCC in last year's match but, with him out of favour, it's now the turn of James Foster, who last played for England in 2002.

"It's fantastic to be selected for the MCC game," Foster told Essex's website, "and is an opportunity to impress once more. These four days against a strong opponent will form an extremely useful part of my preparation ahead of the 2008 season."

Along with Foster, Bopara will be keen to show the England selectors he has shrugged off the disappointment of a poor winter. Although he began England's tour of Sri Lanka well - even opening the bowling in a tour match - he scratched 43 runs in three Tests and looked a little out of his depth. He was axed for England's trip to New Zealand.

The selection of Michael Carberry, the 27-year-old opening batsman from Hampshire, for the Lord's game marks a complete turnaround in his fortunes over the past few seasons. After notching 1000 runs in the Championship last season, he was selected for the England Lions tour of India earlier this year and impressed with 165 runs at 41.25.

"The champion county fixture is one that is greatly anticipated by everyone at MCC," Keith Bradshaw, the MCC chief executive and secretary, said. "Heralding the start of the English cricket season, this match is the first of around 450 that we will play in the UK this year against schools, clubs and touring sides. It's a time when Mick Hunt [head groundsman of Lord's] and his team put the finishing touches to the ground and practice facilities, and there's a general buzz of excitement about the place. It might be two-jumper weather but we can't wait for the cricket to begin at Lord's."

Among the younger players, Steven Finn - the towering Middlesex fast bowler - could share the new ball with either Alan Richardson, his county colleague, or Durham's Graham Onions, who has been on the verge of an England call-up for a couple of seasons. All eyes will be on Adil Rashid, too, the young legspinning allrounder who made such an impression on Yorkshire last season.

"We're looking forward to the season starting in what promises to be another busy year for MCC cricket. This match is a great opportunity for Arun Harinath to show his talent and by association highlight the depth of skill to be found in the MCC Universities. He'll learn a great deal from playing with Ed, Owais and the others, and will hope to use it as a springboard for success. This happened last year when an outstanding performance from Adil Rashid was the catalyst for a very good season, culminating in him being voted the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year."

MCC squad
Ed Joyce (capt, Middlesex), Ravinder Bopara (Essex), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), James Foster (wk, Essex), Steven Finn (Middx), Arun Harinath (Loughborough UCCE and Surrey), Steve Kirby (Gloucestershire), Graham Onions (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Alan Richardson (Middlesex), Owais Shah (Middlesex), James Tredwell (Kent)