Bicknell leads MCC to Denmark

Darren Bicknell, the former Surrey and Nottinghamshire batsman, will captain MCC on a four-match, four-day tour of Denmark next week, their first trip to the country since 2002.

Bicknell made 134 not out for MCC against Scotland at Lord's in April, the match in which the new pink ball was trialled, but this will be his first tour as captain. Joining him in the squad will be the MCC Young Cricketers coach, Mark Wright, and Liam O'Driscoll, representing MCC Universities.

The tour will commence on Monday, July 7, with a 50-over fixture against Denmark Under-19s. Two more 50-over games will follow against the full Denmark side on Wednesday and Thursday, with a Twenty20 match against a Copenhagen Select XI slotting in on Tuesday afternoon, after a coaching session for the Denmark Under-13, 15 and 17 teams.

"Denmark are familiar opponents for us and a nation who have been consistently improving for a number of years," said MCC's head of cricket, John Stephenson. "Hopefully by sending a strong MCC side we will help to further develop the game in Denmark and give their emerging players the advanced coaching and opposition which will help their game." The club will leave behind a grant of $2500 and the ICC will donate $1250 to develop facilities and coaching programmes in Denmark.

Denmark compete in the top tier of the ICC Europe development programme, playing frequent matches against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Excluding England, there are 30 European member countries of the ICC in total. MCC are likely to come up against two of their former Young Cricketers during the tour, with the offspinning allrounder, Michael Pedersen, and Derbyshire's wicketkeeper-batsman, Freddie Klokker, both expected to play.