Marylebone Cricket Club set off on tour on Sunday 2nd August when a squad of 13 flew to the island of Vis, off Croatia, to begin a whistle-stop tour.

The touring party, which includes former Surrey and Nottinghamshire opener Darren Bicknell and former Somerset wicket-keeper (and current MCC tours sub-committee Chairman) Rob Turner, will play four games before flying back on Friday 7th August.

Cricket was introduced to Croatia by Captain William Hoste, a British naval commander who was posted to Vis, in 1809. Although the game largely died out during the mid-19th century through to the late twentieth century, it was reinvigorated on Vis by winemaker Oliver Roki in the early twenty-first century and has been nurtured by local Australian-Croats.

As well as being the 200th anniversary of the introduction of cricket to Croatia, MCC’s tour also coincides with the redevelopment of the Sir William Hoste Cricket Club – the home of Vis CC and Croatian cricket.

MCC will play two 50-over games against Croatia as well as two games against Croatian Select XIs.

On Tuesday 4th August they will run a coaching session for local players, and, after the tour, MCC will leave a grant of $2,500 (12,826 HRK) – and the International Cricket Council will donate $1,250 (6, 413 HRK) – to develop facilities and coaching programmes in Croatia.

MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket & Estates), John Stephenson (left), said: “MCC is committed to developing cricket all over the world and we hope that providing good opposition and coaching to Croatia’s cricketers and youngsters will spread the game further throughout the country.

“MCC is delighted to be visiting such a historic club, which has been recently reinvigorated by the commitment and passion of the members of Vis Cricket Club, and we hope the tour can generate interest amongst a new audience in Croatia.”

Croatia achieved ICC Affiliate Membership in 2001.

MCC’s fixtures are:

3rd August: Croatia (50 overs), Vis CC
4th August: Croatian Select XI (20 overs), Vis CC
5th August: Croatian Select XI (50 overs), Vis CC
6th August: Croatia (50 overs), Vis CC