Sachin Tendulkar, on receiving the Bharat Ratna earlier this week, said “I will continue to bat for India …” and while the master-blaster‘s international career may be over, Sachin is set to lead a team representing Marylebone Cricket Club(MCC) against a Shane Warne-led Rest of the World team in an exhibition match to celebrate the bicentenary of Lord’s in July. The 50-over match is one of a number of specially arranged events to mark 200 years since the first game played on the ground.
“It is an honour to be asked to captain MCC in such a prestigious fixture, and I am delighted to accept,” Tendulkar said. “Lord’s is such a special place to play cricket and I am very much looking forward to helping celebrate its bicentenary by taking part in this match. I was delighted to be presented with an MCC Honorary Life Membership in 2010, and it will be a privilege to play at the home of cricket once again.
Sachin is set to renew his on-field partnership with former teammate Rahul Dravid who is also expected to be a part of the MCC team, managed by MCC’ current president Mike Gatting.
Shane Warne will have the likes of Shaun Pollock in his team, and sounded excited at the prospect of being part of a memorable match. Warne, who led the Rajasthan Royals to victory in the maiden IPL, said : “I always enjoy playing at Lord’s and as an Honorary Life Member of MCC I’m really excited about coming back. I’m sure the match will be a lot of fun and it will be a pleasure to be part of the bicentenary celebrations of the most famous cricket ground in the world.”
The Bicentenary Festival Weekend will take place over July 20-22 and includes a repeat of the first-ever match at Lord’s, between MCC and Hertfordshire in 1814, as well as traditional fixtures between Oxford and Cambridge, and Eton and Harrow.
Home of cricket indeed!
