Barbados will be breaking new ground in the Caribbean when it hosts a festival of English cricket next year with both the North-South Series and the MCC’s Champion County Match against Essex.
The North-South Series, which was launched in Dubai and Abu Dhabi earlier this year as part of England’s preparations for hosting the 2019 World Cup, will feature two matches at Bridgetown’s famous Kensington Oval on March 18 and 21, 2018, followed by a third at the Three Ws Oval on March 23.
The attention will return to the Kensington Oval for the first-class, four day fixture between an MCC XI and Essex, the 2017 County Champions, from March 27- 30, which will be a day night fixture played with pink Dukes balls.
President of the Barbados Cricket Association, Conde Riley said the initiative would provide a timely boost for tourism and cricket in the country.
Riley indicated that entities such as Cricket Legends would be involved in the festival.
Cricket legend, Sir Garfield Sobers said he was delighted that the announcement was made to coincide with the second Royal London One-Day International between England and the West Indies at Trent Bridge.
He said Barbados is honored to have been chosen to stage the ECB North-South Series and MCC Champion County match for the very first time next year.
