Stuart Broad to lead MCC in this year’s Champion County Match against Surrey

England pacer Stuart Broad has been named as the captain of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for the annual Champion County Match against Surrey to be held in Dubai between March 24-27. The match is played between the County Championship winner and the MCC and serves as a traditional curtain-raiser to the new season. Stuart, who plays for Nottinghamshire, was involved in a Test series in the Windies where he went past Kapil Dev in the list of highest wicket-taking bowlers in Test cricket.

In 2018, the Champion County Match was played in Barbados in the Caribbeans in which the MCC beat Essex by an innings and 34 runs. The MCC were led in that game by Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond. The rest of the MCC squad for the upcoming game is yet to be confirmed.

“We are thrilled that Stuart has agreed to captain the side for the Champion County match against Surrey. He is not only a player of the very highest class, but his experience of over 100 Test matches will be invaluable to the younger players in the squad, and I am sure that they will be eager to learn from one of England’s greatest ever bowlers,” ESPNcricinfo quoted MCC assistant secretary John Stephenson as saying. He also said Surrey have a strong side and will pose a tough challenge for Stuart and his team.

Stuart second English bowler with most Test wickets

With 437 wickets in 126 Tests, the 32-year-old Stuart is the sixth highest wicket-taker in Tests now and only the second Englishman after his contemporary James Anderson (575 scalps in 148 matches).

Stuart, son of former England cricketer Chris Broad, is one of the very few players to have earned a place on the honours boards, besides being included on the Honours Board of five-wicket and 10-wicket hauls in Test matches. His highest Test score of 169 scored against Pakistan in 2010 has also been honoured.

Stuart has led England in 27 T20Is between 2011-2014, including in the 2014 World T20 held in Bangladesh.

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