BURY St Edmunds and Suffolk all-rounder Tom Rash sets off tomorrow on a 13-day tour to Thailand with the MCC.

Rash, who plays for Bury in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League and made his Suffolk debut last season, is part of a diverse touring party, which comprises of MCC members from across the country.

The players will pit their skills against the Thailand national side in three 40-over matches, in addition to playing four fixtures against a mix of the top club sides from across the nation. They will also deliver three special coaching sessions for local primary schools.

The 13-strong squad will be looking to share their ample playing experience with the fast-developing Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT).

Granted Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council in 2005, the CAT is widely recognised as boasting an excellent playing infrastructure, with significant growth occurring at a grassroots level over the past ten years.

Former Essex all-rounder John Stephenson, who is MCC head of cricket, said: “I am really pleased that Thomas has been selected for this tour, and I am certain that he will be a great ambassador for the club.

“The Cricket Association of Thailand has done a superb job in recent times to spread the game and increase participation rates. Since the club last visited just over ten years ago, significant strides have been made, and it is hoped that this tour will contribute to building the identity of Thailand within the international cricketing community.

“I am absolutely delighted that the club can continue to support the development of cricket in Thailand, and hope that the MCC team will provide challenging opposition to assist with raising playing standards.”

This will be the first MCC tour of the year as they start their 2012 overseas touring programme. They will also be touring Canada, Italy and Tanzania this year.