A SUFFOLK cricketer is flying out to the West Indies today to take part in a two-week tour.Simon Rees, an all-rounder who plays for Bury St Edmunds, has been selected for the MCC Young Cricketers tour to St Kitts and Nevis.

A SUFFOLK cricketer is flying out to the West Indies today to take part in a two-week tour.

Simon Rees, an all-rounder who plays for Bury St Edmunds, has been selected for the MCC Young Cricketers tour to St Kitts and Nevis.

Rees, who lives at Thurston and is a pupil at King Edward VI Grammar School, Bury St Edmunds, is the only member of the tour party who is not already an MCC contracted player as he is still at school.

He has been regularly attending nets at the MCC Indoor School during the winter months under the direction of head coach Clive Radley, the former Middlesex and England batsman.

He played a game for the MCC Young Cricketers against a Berkshire Development XI last season, taking three wickets with his fast medium bowling.

Rees, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Tuesday, said: “I had heard that there might be a chance of my being on the tour, but when I got the phone call from Clive Radley I was ecstatic.

“We are scheduled to play seven games in 14 days and practice in between. Hopefully we may also get to see a game at the Cricket World Cup.

“I am hoping that it will be a great experience and provide the springboard for me to earn a contract and then become a professional cricketer.”

The most famous “graduates” of the Young Cricketers programme include England pair Ian Botham and Phil Tufnell, and Australia's Mark Waugh.

Rees has played for - and captained - Suffolk Schools at every age group since under-12 and last season played in Suffolk's Development XI, the county's second team. He also trained with the Essex Academy at Chelmsford last summer.

He joined Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club at the age of 11 and made his debut for the first team in the East Anglian Premier League two years ago, playing several games last season as the club retained the title.

Kevin Brooks, who captained Bury to their twin title success and is also Suffolk's director of cricket, said: “Simon is one of Suffolk's promising up-and-coming young players.

“He has had the good fortune at club level to have the opportunity to play alongside some very good players, which no doubt will have helped improve his game.

“Simon has an opportunity to impress now at a higher level, which is no more than he deserves. He has worked hard at his game and is very dedicated.”