The MCC have one of their busiest touring schedules of non-test countries this year, with six non-test countries on the schedule.

The first destination, in February, is Argentina, where the MCC first toured way back in 1912, when Argentina were good enough to be given first-class status. That won't be happening this time, but the MCC will play an ACA President's XI, the North and South teams and an Argentine Colts team before taking on the national side in a one-day match and a two-day match.

That tour will be followed almost immediately with a trip to Uganda. During the European summer, two European countries get a visit, with Germany the destination in June, and Denmark the destination in July. In October, the MCC will embark for the Pacific, playing in Fiji and Samoa on their trip.

Outside of the normal touring programme, there are matches scheduled against school teams in Scotland and Irish youth and University sides in May and June. There will also be matches against the Under-19 teams of both Scotland and Ireland. The now annual MCC v Europe match is set to be played in Denmark in June, and will be played over two days this year.

The annual visits to the crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man remain on the fixture list in 2008, and Kowloon Cricket Club of Hong Kong will play the MCC on the Lord's Nursery ground in July, whilst Ireland A will play a three-day game on the main Lord's ground in August.

All in all, a very busy year for the MCC as far as matches in and against non-Test teams is concerned, and they must be congratulated for their continuing support of cricket below Test level.