Surrey all rounder Azhar Mahmood and leg spinner Chris Schofield are joining team mate Rikki Clarke and former Surrey fast bowler Martin Bicknell in a PCA Masters team, who are taking on the West Indies in a Twenty20 match at Arundel this afternoon.

The PCA have called up Schofield and Mahmood to replace James Benning and Nayan Doshi, who had been lined up to play for the Masters but have since been called into the Surrey second team for the side’s vital Trophy match against the MCC YCs – now being played at Charterhouse School.

Surrey have got off to a great start in the 2007 Twenty20 Cup with two victories out of two over Middlesex in the London Derby and against Hampshire last Sunday. Doshi’s performance against the Hawks was remarkable as he picked up three wickets for just six runs and in the process became the first bowler to register 50 wickets in the competition.

What is the Surrey second team’s gain will be the PCA Master’s loss but with Doshi’s leg spinning partner Schofield taking his place in tonight’s tour match at Arundel, the PCA should be just as delighted. Both spinners have played a huge part in Surrey’s success in the One day arena this season, particularly when bowling in tandem.

A great example of this was against the Crusader’s last Friday. Surrey’s opponents were cruising at ten runs per over after six, but the introduction of Surrey’s spin duo curtailed their scoring and stopped them from posting the formidable total that they were expecting.

Speaking about tonight’s match, Schofield said: “I have played in a couple of PCA Master’s sides in the past and they have always been good fun.”

He added: “These matches, because they are played against international sides, are a good opportunity to test yourself and see if you can cope at that level. If I can put in a good performance hopefully it will put may name back in the limelight for England.”

The full PCA Masters side to play against the West Indies is as follows:

Nick Knight
Nathan Astle
Azhar Mahmood
Martin Bicknell
Rikki Clarke
Chris Schofield
James Foster
Dean Headley
Chris Lewis
James Middlebrook
Robin Smith

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