Arun Harinath has been selected as part of a strong MCC side to take on last year’s LV County Champions, Sussex, in the 2008 season curtain raiser at Lord’s, starting a week on Thursday.

Harinath is on Surrey’s staff with a summer contract, while he completes his studies at Loughborough University. He is currently touring with the MCC British Universities squad in South Africa, but will return home at the end of this week to join the squad for the opening match of the season at Lord’s next week.

A talented left-handed batsman, Harinath is one of many graduates of the Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy to go on to earn a professional contract. He has spent the last year and a half at Loughborough University, where he has been a member of the MCC sponsored University Cricket Centre of Excellence, for who he made his first class debut last year.

Harinath will play alongside some of county cricket’s more experienced players including Ed Joyce, who will captain the side, Owais Shah and former England wicket keeper, James Foster. And with a bowler heavy 12-man squad it looks as though the Surrey man will take his place in the starting line-up.

John Stephenson, MCC's Head of Cricket said: ”This match is a great opportunity for Arun to show his talent and by association highlight the depth of skill to be found in the MCC Universities. He'll learn a great deal from playing with Ed, Owais and the others, and will hope to use it as a springboard for success.”

Surrey's wicket keeper, Jonathan Batty, commented: "It is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience and exposure at the highest level. Having seen Arun mature over the past few seasons I am sure that he will equip himself well."

Harinath commented to Surrey TV: "Ed Joyce is a left-hander like myself so it will be interesting to see how he goes about scoring his runs. It's a great opportunity and hopefully one that will stand me in good stead for playing some first class cricket later on."

To see Harinath's interview with Surrey TV, click here.

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