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In June 2007, the Belgian Cricket Federation was privileged to host a tour from the world’s most famous cricket club, the MCC. It is some years since the MCC last visited Belgium and the event was eagerly awaited by all cricket enthusiasts throughout the country. Since the BBC lost the TV viewing rights for cricket, it was a rare opportunity for Belgium to witness 1st class cricketers from around the world playing on our home soil.

The tourists arrived on 23^rd June and played 4 matches in succession with two days off in the middle for some cultural sight seeing in between. Unfortunately they arrived midway through one of the wettest June’s on record, but despite the stormy skis, rain only temporarily interrupted and all games were played out to conclusion.

The first game was played at Gent Arcadians Cricket Club against a combined Cricket Vlaanderen XI. The MCC won the toss and opted to bat first, with dark clouds circling above. The MCC started steadily clocking up the runs until Shahzad made the breakthrough, having Carr ct walker with a relatively simple catch. Then Bupte and James, batting for the tourists took control of the bowlers bringing up the 3 figures with some excellent stroke play. Just when it looked like the match was running away from the Vlaanderens, they made the breakthrough with the tourists on 122. There then followed a spectacular collapse with the MCC losing 5 wickets for 15 runs with some very sharp bowing from AmirDiwan-Aliand Amir Iqbal. With rain now coming in bursts, the match was interrupted and reduced to 40 overs accordingly. The MCC rued the run rate together with rapid fall of wickets, but came back with Mr Andren striking a quick 22 leaving the Vlaanderen’s 180 to chase at the end of the 40 overs, having lost 8 wickets. The pick of the bowlers were Amir Iqbal (3 for 32 off 8 overs), and Diwan-Ali (2 for 25 also off 8).

Cricket Vlaanderen then took up the chase with what seemed like a reachable target, if the remained closed. Early nerves were to take their toll and Shah, the opener was run out to a sharp throw from Peet in the field, with only 3 runs to his name. It was then that Amir Iqbal took control for the home team, rattling up a majestic 80 runs off some tight bowling and turning the game to their advantage. However, if the MCC collapse had stunned the home team, it was trumped by the home side, as the 2^nd wicket fell on 99. What followed was a cascade of disastrous strokes as wickets tumbled with machine gun rapidity, 99 for 2, 100 for 3, 101 for 5 and then 111 when the 9^th wicket fell. A heroic late fight back from the number 11 Raza, who clocked up 23, was not enough to save the home side, and they finished on 140 all out. A deserved victory served up for the MCC thanks to some excellent bowling, with Stuart Ransley’s 4 for 20 off 8, and the ultra-experienced Mustafa Rajabali’s 13 for 3 also off 8 overs.

After a few celebratory drinks and some hefty fines for the batsmen, the MCC awoke the next morning in high spirits for their second game, the eagerly awaited match against a select 11 from the Belgian Cricket Federation. The weather was not in charitable mood though, and showers were forecast for the day.

B.C.F won the toss and opted to put the tourists into bat. The match again planned 55 overs limited play, although rain was looking like challenging this. In fact 70 minutes play was lost in all with batsmen interrupted mid-flow on repeated occasions. That said, a steady start was made with all the top order justifying their positions with meritable stroke play,  but none really getting going towards a big score. Clearly the interruptions to play were preventing them getting going. Once through the top order, the lower batsmen were less successful and fell to a mixture of good bowling and average stroke play. The last 5 wickets falling for only 25 runs, leaving the MCC all out for 175. With the match reduced to 45 overs, the BCF were in no mood to repeat the errors of the Vlaanderen XI of the day before and set about the chase with a dogged determination.. Sahid and Rabbani, the two openers, racking up 67 for the 1^st wicket, before Faisal, the Belgian national coach, came in and put another 25 runs on the board before being run out off a sharp throw from Harrison. The MCC bowlers were clearly struggling to make a breakthrough and it was only Rajabali who struck, taking both openers and ratcheting up his 900^th wicket for the MCC in so doing – the top wicket taker ever for the MCC. All this was not enough to upset the flow of the BCF and they romped home losing only 4 wickets in the process. 2 matches gone, and 1-1 the score!

Then followed 2 rest days enabling the MCC to discover more of Belgium from their base in Antwerp. A moving trip to Ypres to see the graves of the fallen soldiers of the 1^st World war was preceded by a fine dinner put on by the BCF in Antwerp, with fine speeches from the captain Chinmay Gupte and gracious acceptance from Jeremy McKenna, secretary to the BCF.

Wednesday saw the MCC return to Antwerp Cricket Ground where they put on a coaching session for the young Belgian juniors, who came from all over Belgium to take up the opportunity. There followed a 20-20 against a B.C.F Chairman’s XI  with the home side ending up successful after some unorthodox big hitting took the game away from the Tourists. The day was wrapped up with a spit roast BBQ at the club for which the rain stayed clear thankfully.

The following day took the MCC down to Waterloo for their final game against the Belgian Under 19s hosted by the Royal Brussels Cricket Club. This time the weather was looking better, promising the first, and last, full day’s play of the Tour. The Under 19’s won the toss and opted not to chase. They put on a fine performance collectively, showing they have the spirit and sense of mind needed for the future of the national team. Despite some very straight bowling from the MCC, the batsmen remained unfazed and racked up a considerable 204 at the end of the innings, leaving the tourists a fair total to chase. The MCC were clearly in very relaxed form being the end of the tour, and batting accordingly. Meanwhile the bowlers for the Under 19’s were clearly struggling to find a line and length to trouble the MCC, all to no avail. In the end the MCC romped home losing only 3 wickets in the process. Although disappointed with the result, the Under 19’s were visibly impressed by the quality and sportsmanship of the MCC Tourists and we have good reason to believe they will take these lessons on with them into the ECC tournaments of August where they will be hoping to turn their enthusiasm into success.

It is indeed a great honour and prestige for Belgian Cricket to welcome the M.C.C. on a tour, and does much to promote cricket within the country. Many of those who came into contact with the party were able to learn from the experience and gentlemanship of the players themselves and develop their own sense of the spirit of the game. We all look forward eagerly to their next visit and offer a big thanks for their generosity in coming to Belgium this summer.