Ben Cox has been named in the MCC squad for the traditional showpiece curtain raiser to the new season against the Champion County for the second time in three years.
The Worcestershire wicket-keeper batsman made his initial appearance in the fixture in 2017 against Middlesex in Abu Dhabi, scoring 40 and 17 and taking five catches.
Vitality Blast finals day double man of the match hero Cox has now been included to face the 2018 champions Surrey at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai from March 24 to 27.
Cox will remain in the UAE after being part of the Worcestershire squad for the two week pre season tour of Abu Dhabi from March 6 to 20.
He has already this winter spent nearly two months in New Zealand playing for Otago Volts in the Super Smash.
County opener Daryl Mitchell was also selected for the Champion County game in 2015, scoring 64 against Yorkshire.
England paceman Stuart Broad will skipper the side.
John Stephenson, MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket), said: “This is a talented and exciting team which we’re very much looking forward to seeing take on Surrey.
“This group boasts plenty of experience in county cricket and we are fortunate to have Stuart Broad to lead the team as captain. He will be able to pass on some of his knowledge to the younger players in the side.
“Surrey were undoubtedly the best team in the Specsavers County Championship last season so it will be a tough test, and the challenge for MCC will be to match the excellent victory over Essex in last year’s Champion County Match.”
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SQUAD
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire) – captain
Tom Abell (Somerset)
Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire)
Tom Westley (Essex)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Will Rhodes (Warwickshire)
Peter Trego (Somerset)
Ben Cox (Worcestershire) – wicket-keeper
Dominic Bess (Somerset)
Stephen Parry (Lancashire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
