THE rules of cricket will change dramatically at Lydney next Friday (August 24) when Gloucestershire take on a Forest of Dean team – the Forest will have 16 players!
It's one way to level up the contest as this will be a full-blooded 50 overs game organised as part of Mike Smith's benefit year.
The county pace bowler is a currently out of action with an injury but he will be playing at Lydney – and bowling, though not at full tilt.
And in a thank-you to local fans who have supported him, Mike has been able to select the full county X1 to play the Forest team.
"I'm really looking forward to it. The game is one of the biggest of my benefit year and I have been lucky enough to be able to select the full county team.
"The one change is that Jack Russell will not be keeping wicket – he will be bowling," said Mike.
Mike has taken 500 first class wickets in his 11 years with Gloucestershire and represented England at Test level in the Ashes series of 1997. He is widely recognised as one of England's most deadly accurate swing and pace bowlers.
Next Friday's game begans at 12.30 and will be a full 50 over contest.
Afterwards there will be a buffet and presentation at Lydney's Kings Bar.
A frequent visitor to the Forest, Mike has played at Lydney in the past as a member of the County's Second Xl.
He was in the town last week and met and coached some local lads in the Lydney nets.