Butcher looks forward to UAE trip

Surrey captain Mark Butcher believes his county’s participation in the annual Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy can help their quest for one-day silverware.

The Brown Caps will take part in the second edition of the tournament - also involving five other counties - for the first time from March 17-25.

Butcher’s side, still without a coach, will compete alongside last season’s NatWest Pro40 winners Sussex Sharks, Friends Provident Trophy champions Essex Eagles and Twenty20 Cup victors Middlesex Crusaders.

They will also be joined by defending champions Yorkshire Carnegie, Lancashire Lightning, the United Arab Emirates national side and a Fly Emirates XI.

In contrast to their opponents, Surrey endured a frustrating 2008, suffering relegation in the LV County Championship and failing to reach the knockout stages of the Friends Provident Trophy and the Twenty20 Cup.

Mark Butcher hopes playing in the Pro ARCH Trophy will help Surrey "hit the ground running"

But former England Test batsman Butcher is confident the trip to the UAE can boost their bid for promotion in the last year of the NatWest Pro40.

The 36-year-old, currently in rehabilitation following a knee operation in October, said: “The Surrey squad are looking forward to getting involved in this event as it will give us the opportunity to start improving on our one-day cricket.

“From the changes that we’ve been making to the squad and the new personnel we’ve brought in, it will also be a great chance for us to start playing together so we get familiar with each other’s game.

“This will ensure we’re ready to hit the ground running come the start of the season proper.”

Surrey begin their pre-season training on March 1 with signings Michael Brown and Alex Tudor set to be involved.

Star batsman Mark Ramprakash added: “It will be great to play some high level cricket in a country that has both a warm climate and good facilities. This tour will really help us prepare well for the 2009 season.”

Organised by Sport Arabia Ltd, the tournament is the brainchild of Sussex seamer James Kirtley who said: “Sport Arabia are delighted in securing Emirates Airline as the headline sponsor.

“It is our belief that this concept will grow year on year with the event becoming a major fixture in the cricket calendar.”