By Charles Randall

12 March 2013

Horsham CC supply two players for the Combined MCC Universities tour to Abu Dhabi and Dubai this month when all-rounder Devon Endersby and opener James Johnson join a strong squad for an 11-day visit.

Endersby, at Loughborough, was named as the Sussex League under-21 player of the year in 2012, and Johnson, at Anglia Ruskin, hit 61 against Essex on his debut for the Cambridge MCC universities side at Fenner's.

Horsham, runners-up in the Sussex League in 2012, have been building a strong reputation for producing and advancing outstanding players, with the selection of schoolboy off-spinner Ben Shoare for the Sussex Academy this summer as the youngest. Apart from Endersby and Johnson, the former England Under-19 leg-spinner Will Beer has reached the fringes of the Sussex side, wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd has extended his first class career by signing for Yorkshire and opener Chris Nash has established himself in the Sussex side. All these players would turn out for their home club if available.

Others player of note in the touring universities party is the Glastonbury CC batsman Charles Ellison, son of the former England seamer Richard and the CCC player, Scott McKechnie, who is from Hartley Country Club CC.

. The students' focal match will be against Lancashire.

 The MCC are sponsoring two youth tours in the emirates on March 14-25, effectively a joint outing, as MCC Young Cricketers join the university students in a training camp for a third successive year. Two Sunbury CC players feature in the Young Cricketers' party -- the two Ireland Under-19 players Shane Getkate and Stuart Poynter. Other familiar names are Billy Root, the brother of the England Test batsman Joe, and Liam Gough, son of the former England fast bowler Darren.

In addition to training in the world class facilities available at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the MCC YCs and MCC Universities players will get the opportunity to test their skill against professional county opposition. On 23 March the YCs team meet Sussex in a 40-over game in Abu Dhabi and the MCC students play 40 overs against Lancashire at Sevens Cricket Ground in Dubai. In other games the MCC players will be competing against each other in a mix of multi-day, 40-over and Twenty20 games.

Commenting on the international pre-season training camp, MCC head of cricket, John Stephenson, said: "The format has proven to be very successful in previous years, and I know that there is a real sense of excitement amongst both squads ahead of the trip. The opportunity to play cricket overseas and in different conditions is essential early-on in a player’s career, so this tour provides a perfect opportunity for 30 talented young players to gain valuable experience."

The MCC Universities combined side is restricted to the six MCC centres and was selected by former England Test batsman Clive Radley, based on performances during the 2012 season.

Itinerary:

17-19 March: MCC YCs v MCCUs (3-day, Zayed Stadium)

21 March: MCC YCs v MCCUs (40 overs, Zayed Stadium, day-night)

23 March: MCC YCs v Sussex (40 overs, Zayed Stadium, Nursery Ground)

23 March: MCCUs v Lancashire (40 overs, Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai)

24 March: MCC YCs v MCCUs (20 overs, Zayed Stadium, Nursery Ground)

MCC Universities

Dean Bell (Cambridge MCCU & Fleetwood CC)

Charles Ellison (Oxford MCCU & Glastonbury CC)

Devon Endersby (Loughborough MCCU & Horsham CC)

James Johnson (Cambridge MCCU & Horsham CC)

Toby Lester (Loughborough MCCU & Market Harborough CC)

Alex MacQueen (Leeds/Bradford MCCU & Valley End CC)

Adam Miles (Cardiff MCCU)

Scott Phillips (Cardiff MCCU & Mumbles CC)

Joshua Poysden (Cambridge MCCU & Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC)

Uzi Qureshi (Cardiff MCCU & Chippenham CC)

Matthew Salisbury (Cambridge MCCU & Shenfield CC)

Rishabh Shah (Durham MCCU & Newcastle CC)

Adam Sollieux (Loughborough MCCU & Hadleigh & Thundersley CC)

Jonathan Webb (Leeds/Bradford MCCU & Dorridge CC)

MCC Young Cricketers

Afaq Babar (Old Northamptonians CC)

Graham Clark (Durham CCC)

Adam Dobb (Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC)

Shane Getkate (Sunbury CC)

Liam Gough (Northamptonshire CCC)

Dan Hampton (Gerrards Cross CC)

Adam Hose (Ventnor CC)

Scott McKechnie (Hartley Country Club CC)

Chris Piesley (Lordswood CC)

Harry Podmore (Ealing CC)

Jamie Porter (Fives & Heronians CC)

Jordan Price (Landsdown CC)

Stuart Poynter (Sunbury CC)

Jordan Rollings (Dorking CC)

Billy Root (Cuckney CC)

Zain Shahzad (Wanstead & Snaresbrook CC)