Ghanaian cricketers upbeat

Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - The senior national cricket team is basking in confidence of making the nation proud on Wednesday as they play the first of four international friendly matches against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from the United Kingdom at the Achimota Secondary School Oval.

The team stepped up its training regimen to the apex level on Sunday where they engaged in official final practice match toward the crunch duels.

The seniors played the under-19 squad, which is also billed to play the MCC, and took the opportunity to train on the transformed turf, which was leveled and the grasses mowed last Wednesday.

The newly appointed General Secretary of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) Mr Fred Maurex told the GNA Sports that aside those matches, the MCC will also run a day's coaching clinic for the Ghanaian officials as well as organize practice matches for the young ones on Thursday, January 12 at the Achimota School Oval.

The visitors play the senior national team on the 13th and 14th at the Achimota Oval and the Accra Polo Turf respectively while engaging the Chairman's eleven on the 15th and 17th.

The MCC, responsible for making the laws of cricket, is the world's most famous cricket club. They will depart for Gambia for a similar exercise on Wednesday, January 18, and are also billed to tour Morocco in October this year.

It was founded in 1787, and controlled the sport as well as its most popular venue until it was taken over by the International Cricket Council.

Being the "mother" of cricket, the MCC, as part of its yearly itinerary selects few countries around the globe to engage in some matches, as well as help develop the sport especially among young people.

A year after its formation, the MCC laid down the code of laws, requiring the wickets to be pitched 22 yards apart and initiated how players could be given out.