Special caps, players' parade to commemorate 100th Test

The ECB and the BCCI will celebrate the 100th Test between England and India by exchanging mementos and presenting a special commemorative cap to former players on both sides, the English board has said.

The 100th Test between the countries coincides with the first npower Test at Lord's that starts tomorrow. ECB chairman Giles Clarke, BCCI president Shashank Manohar , BCCI honorary secretary N Srinivasan and ECB chief executive David Collier will present each other with mementos at the toss. Then on Sunday, a special on-field ceremony will take place during the lunch interval, at which former England and India captains and players will be given a specially made commemorative cap.

The presentation will be followed by a parade of past players, including former captains of both countries like Ian Botham, Bob Willis, Nasser Hussain, Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly, according to a statement from the ECB.

"We are very keen to make the 100th Test Match a great occasion for everyone and give spectators an opportunity to pay tribute to those players whose performances have graced previous contests between the two countries," Collier said in the statement. "We are grateful to BCCI and the MCC for their co-operation in staging this series of presentations. It is fitting that this match will feature the Test sides ranked first and third in the world and we look forward to an exciting npower Test series."

Srinivasan called it a "momentous occasion" and saluted all the players and administrators who have featured in series between the two countries.