The Sheikh Zayed Stadium staged its first Test match in November

The MCC's season-opening four-day game against the county champions will again be a day-night contest in Abu Dhabi.

Nottinghamshire will provide the opposition for the match, which is due to begin on Sunday, 27 March.

Last season's fixture, won by Durham, was played with a pink ball, but a decision on the ball that is to be used in the 2011 game has yet to be made.

"This will be ideal preparation for the players ahead of the season," said MCC head of cricket John Stephenson.

"The MCC is pleased to be returning to the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi for the champion county match.

"The fixture provides a perfect platform for us to use as valuable research and development for the world game.

"It is an excellent ground for competitive first-class cricket."

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium staged its first Test match in November when, in the second of a two-match series in the United Arab Emirates (the first Test was in the Dubai Sports City Stadium), Pakistan drew with South Africa.

The two countries also met at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium for two one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

Meanwhile, the MCC have confirmed that next season's Clydesdale Bank 40 final will be played at Lord's on Saturday, 17 September.

It will be the 49th consecutive year that English county cricket's end-of-season limited-over climax has been played at Lord's.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version