Gatting looking forward to 2008 Cricket Sixes

Test legend Mike Gatting cannot wait to return to the "excellent" Hong Kong Cricket Sixes later this year.

Gatting was manager of the England team that took part in the 2007 event and the experience has left him hungry for more.

"It's a very good tournament, one that is respected throughout the cricket world," he said.

"I was fortunate enough to accompany the England side to last year's Sixes and all the guys agreed it was an excellent competition."

Gatting - the former England captain who played 79 tests for his country from 1978 to 1995 - believes the sixes format is an effective development tool for emerging international players.

"It gives them exposure in the international arena where they have to play in an overseas climate and perform in a pressure situation," he explained.

"It definitely helps with their development. The ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] certainly thinks so - you can see that from the quality of the side we brought over to Hong Kong last year.

"We had players like Dimitri Mascarenhas and Luke Wright, who have both just been named in England's one day squad to play New Zealand, plus the likes of Darren Maddy and Kabir Ali.

"We also had Tim Bresnan, who's having a very good season and is pushing for England honours."

Gatting, 51, was speaking during a recent visit to Hong Kong to mark his appointment as a patron of the historic Hong Kong Cricket Club - a position he described as "a great honour".

The 2008 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will be staged at the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 8-9.

The stellar line-up of players will include Australian master batsman Damien Martyn, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The trio - who boast 298 tests and 927 one day international appearances between them - will appear for the All-Stars in the 10-team tournament.

The All-Stars will join nine representative international teams - Australia, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and hosts Hong Kong.

First held in 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

The Hong Kong event, which continues to be fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, is not part of the proposed iSixes World Series.

Players who have taken part in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

Profits from the tournament are ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Cricket Association.

Gatting is looking forward to what promises to be another memorable weekend at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

"Sixes is tremendous fun for the fans and the players really enjoy it," he said. "The games are fast and furious and everyone gets involved. It's also a great way of introducing the sport to new fans."

Related Links:

Player Profile: Mike Gatting

Photo: Mike Gatting was manager of the England team at the 2007 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. © Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

ENDS

About the Hong Kong Cricket Association

The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) is responsible for professionally administering cricket at all levels in Hong Kong. It aims to promote, expand and develop the sport, improve standards in all areas of the game and increase the number of participants from all sectors of the local community. It organises competitions throughout the year for all age groups, from primary school children to senior players. The HKCA's wholly owned subsidiary, China Cricket International Limited, is responsible for the organisation and management of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.

Released on behalf of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes by Two Up Front.

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Thorn Huang
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