Cook savours occasion

12 April 2007

Alastair Cook © Getty Images

England batsman Alastair Cook is relishing the challenge of captaining MCC in the traditional opening match of the season against LV County Champions Sussex at Lord’s, starting on Friday.

The left-hander leads a team including England bowlers Stephen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.

Warwickshire’s Alex Loudon has been called into the side in place of the hamstrung Will Jefferson.

Cook said: “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never captained at Lord’s and, in fact, I’ve never even captained in a competitive game for Essex before so this will be a great baptism.

“It’s also the start of the first-class season so I can’t wait, really. It was good to get a century in a warm-up match last week against Surrey but this is the start of ‘proper’ cricket.

"I’m genuinely looking forward to the experience and the honour of leading the MCC.”

Keith Bradshaw, secretary and chief executive of MCC, added: "I am delighted that Alastair has accepted MCC's invitation to captain its first representative side of the 2007 domestic season.

“He has demonstrated great commitment to the Club over the years, as well as turning in some excellent performances at the 'home of cricket'.

“He scored a century here in the corresponding fixture two years ago, and emulated that achievement in his second Test appearance at Lord's, in July 2006.

"I am sure that he and his team-mates will get MCC's season off to a great start."

Gates will open at 10.00am on all four days, with play beginning at 11.00am. Ground admission prices are £12 for adults and £6 for under-16s and over-65s.

Ball-by-ball commentary will be streamed live on the internet via www.lords.org.

MCC squad

Alastair Cook (Essex, captain)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Nick Compton (Middlesex)
Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire)
Steve Harmison (Durham)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Alex Loudon (Warwickshire)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Zoheb Sharif (MCC Universities - Cambridge)