Warwickshire captain Ian Bell to skipper MCC in Abu Dhabi

Warwickshire skipper Ian Bell has been named captain of the MCC for their Champion County match in Abu Dhabi.

MCC will take on champions Yorkshire in the four-day match which begins on Sunday, March 20, in the annual curtain raiser to the English county season.

The game will take place under the MCC Spirit of Cricket Banner and, following a request from Yorkshire, will be played in day conditions with a red ball.

This will be the third time Bell has played for MCC, having represented the club in Champion County matches at Lord's in 2004 and 2009 against Sussex and Durham respectively.

Bell will also be part of the MCC squad for the preceding Emirates T20 tournament in Dubai, which will take place on Friday, March 18, and will feature MCC and three English counties.

"This match is perfect for me to get some time in the middle ahead of the new season and I'm very grateful to MCC for offering me the chance to both play for and captain the team," said the 33-year-old.

"It's a nice opportunity for some practice in warm weather, and it will of course be a privilege to represent MCC again. Yorkshire's team is full of top quality players so it will be great for myself and the rest of our guys to test ourselves against them, and hopefully I can contribute to an entertaining match."

John Stephenson, MCC head of cricket, said: "Ian Bell is one of the best England cricketers of his generation and I'm delighted that he has agreed to captain MCC for this year's Champion County match.

"It's an ideal opportunity for him to gain match practice ahead of the new season, and I'm sure his experience will prove beneficial for our squad too.

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"We are pleased to be returning to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for a seventh year as the facilities are excellent for first class cricket and have produced some very competitive matches in recent years."