A team featuring a host of top international cricketers will play in one of the biggest matches ever to be staged in Malton this June.

Lashings Cricket Club, whose star players have included Brian Lara, Shane Warne and Viv Richards, will play a Malton and Old Malton representative side on June 20.

A crowd of up to 3,000 is expected at Malton's ground for what promises to be a memorable occasion against the side known as the Harlem Globetrotters of cricket.

Former West Indies and Yorkshire captain Richie Richardson will skipper the Lashings XI. Other names who have been confirmed to play include West Indian players Stuart Williams, Sherwin Campbell, Jimmy Adams, Junior Murray and Franklyn Rose.

Malton, who will be sponsored by John Smiths, hope to have a number of Yorkshire players and other special guests playing in their team, including Collis King.

The limited-over match will be played in coloured clothing and with a white ball. Live music, including a Carribean steel band, face-painting, a bouncy castle and bar refreshments will be some of the other attractions available.

Chairman Dennis Johnson said it would be one of the biggest games in the club's history.

"For a top team like Lashings to visit is really good for the town and should bring lots of people in. There should be plenty of entertainment, with a real Caribbean flavour."

"Playing against the likes of these men is what every cricketer wants to do. It can be the highlight of their cricketing career," added Johnson.

Malton-based craftsman Nick Nixon, who makes cricket bats for Lashings, helped to set up the match.

He said: "I became bat-maker for the team last year and went to a few of their games. I remember thinking, if Malton could pull this off, it would really put them on the map."

He spoke to Lashings chairman David Folb, who set the June 20 date up.

"It's a fantastic date, on nearly the longest day of the year, against a team which is in a lot of demand. It should be a great day," added Nixon, who was full of praise for the way Malton has transformed as a club in recent years.

Nixon will donate one of his top-of-the-range hand-made bats to any Malton player who scores a century in the match.

The Lashings team was formed 20 years ago by David Folb, the owner of Lashings Wine Bar in Maidstone.

Since then, it has transformed from being a pub team to one which plays exhibition matches across the country and abroad, featuring some of the biggest names in cricket.

The team recently played in South Africa, when Shane Warne, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Curtley Ambrose played for them in front of 10,000 spectators and a TV audience of 4m viewers.

Other stars to have played for Lashings include Shoaib Akhtar, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Waugh and Wasim Akram.

Funds raised from the game against Malton will go towards the club's junior development programme. In addition to its under-11 and under-15 sides, it will be introducing two new teams at under-13 and under-18 level this season.

Johnson said the club was hoping to buy new all-weather nets and a bowling machine. He added: "Our junior section has really taken off. We have qualified coaches and get around 30 or 40 on practice night."

An under-11s knock-out tournament at noon will precede the big match, which starts at 2pm.

Will's Bar will be supplying the beer tent and Specialist Cars of Malton is sponsoring the Malton team's coloured clothing.

Tickets at £5 are now on sale at Will's Bar and Hoppers, both located in Malton market place, and Malton News in Wheelgate. They are also available from Joy Hudson on (01653) 692223. Tickets at £6 can also be bought on the day.

If any local businesses are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Dennis Johnson on (01653) 600003, during the day, or Joy Hudson, on the above number, during the evening.

Visit www.lashings.com for more information.

Malton and Old Malton's new overseas player for this season will be Aussie Ryan Bulger. He is a leg spin bowler and right-handed bat, who has played for South Australian seconds.

Updated: 12:07 Wednesday, April 14, 2004