Claire Taylor and Charlotte Edwards have been included in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) squad for the upcoming women’s tour of the USA and Canada.

Taylor will captain the group which also includes former England skipper Edwards, as well as a number of players with county experience.

This will be Taylor’s second MCC tour in recent years, having also led a squad to Hong Kong and China alongside Mike Gatting in 2014.

MCC are also sending a men’s squad to the USA which will be captained by former Durham batsman Steve Birtwistle, and managed by Norwich CC’s Steve Livermore.

The squad also includes former MCC Young Cricketer Chad Barrett, who scored 114 not out on his first class debut for Northamptonshire last month.

The women depart on Wednesday 7 September and the men on Thursday 8 September.

The MCC women’s squad will play seven matches on the tour. Among the fixtures is a T20 match against USA Women on Sunday 11 September at Merrion Cricket Club, and a 50-over clash against a Canadian Select XI on Thursday 15 September at Toronto Skating & Curling Club.

The men’s squad will play six matches, including two floodlit T20 fixtures at Fort Lauderdale and two 50-over clashes with the USA national side at the World Sports Park in Indianapolis.

The men will also deliver a coaching session to 40 local children in Queens, New York on 9 September. This will focus on teaching cricket skills and the importance of playing in the right spirit.

This will be the first time ever MCC have sent men’s and women’s squads to the same destination simultaneously. It will also be the first ever MCC women’s tour to the USA and Canada.

MCC Head of Cricket John Stephenson said: “These are momentous tours for MCC in so many ways and we are delighted to be sending two strong squads to help promote the men’s and women’s game out in the US and Canada.

“Of course having two cricketers of the calibre of Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor in the women’s squad is an added bonus.

“I’m sure all our players will prove to be excellent ambassadors for the Club and the Spirit of Cricket.”

MCC women’s squad to tour the USA and Canada:

Name Other
Judy Wilmot Somerset Wanderers CC, Player/Manager
Claire Taylor Berkshire CCC, Captain
Bev Nicholson Yorkshire CCC, Vice Captain
Charlotte Edwards Kent CCC
Aylish Cranstone Devon CCC
Emma Elsom Orpington Nomads CC
Emma Godman Somerset CCC
Sinead Goodden Surrey CCC
Raveena Lakhtaria Surrey CCC
Hazel Lovegrove Orpington Nomads CC
Sarah McCann Cheshire CCC
Nicole Richards Somerset CCC
Marilyn Smith Middlesex CCC
Charlotte Williams Cheshire CCC
Jane Carpenter Umpire

MCC women’s Tour Itinerary

Fixture Venue Date
MCC v USA Red (20 overs) Evansburg Cricket Ground Sat 10 Sept
MCC v USA Blue (20 overs) Evansburg Cricket Ground Sat 10 Sept
MCC v USA Women (20 overs) Merrion Cricket Club Sun 11 Sept
MCC v CanAm (20 overs) Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club Wed 14 Sept
MCC v Canadian Select XI (50 overs) Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club Thu 15 Sept
MCC v Ontario Cricket Association (50 overs) TBC Sat 17 Sept
MCC v Canadian Select XI (50 overs) TBC Sun 18 Sept

MCC men’s squad to tour the USA

Name Other
Steve Livermore Norwich CC, Manager
Simon Birtwisle South Northumberland CC, Captain
Robbie Arthur Northern Ireland CC
Nicholas Rushworth East Bierley CC
Luke Jackson Bourne CC, Lincolnshire CC
Naseer Chohan Wraysbury CC
Andrew Brock Grange CC
Steve Naylor Henley CC
Paul Byrne Spencer CC
Chad Barrett Bishop’s Stortford CC, Northamptonshire CCC
Joe Shuttle Winchmore Hill CC
Chris Glasper Ealing CC
Mark O’Leary Sudbrook CC
Ben Jeffery Ashtead CC
Barry Toombs Umpire

MCC men’s Tour Itinerary

Fixture Venue Date
MCC v NYC XI (50 overs) Queens Sat 10 Sept
MCC v NYC XI (50 overs) Queens Sat 11 Sept
MCC v Florida XI (20 overs) Fort Lauderdale Wed 13 Sept
MCC v Florida XI (20 overs) Fort Lauderdale Thu 15 Sept
MCC v USA (50 overs) Indianapolis Sat 17 Sept
MCC v USA (50 overs) Indianapolis Sun 18 Sept

We will carry a live scorecard of the games in New York.
Story courtesy of https://www.lords.org/