MALVERN College's 1st XI cricket team were due to fly to South Africa yesterday (Thursday) for an 18-day cricket tour during which they will play seven matches against South African and other British school teams.

The college pupils will be guest of Bishops School, Capetown, who are hosting the festival.

The Malvern College side will be captained by Harry Bailey, aged 17, whose father is an Old Malvernian who captained Cheshire in the minor counties. It will include Will Gifford, a member of the England U15 team and Craig Wood, Will Murtagh and Charles Tolchard all of whom represent Worcestershire U16s. The bowling will be led by Ben Edkins, Wales U16s.

One feature of the Malvern College side is a pair of identical twins, George and Arthur Vaughan, who are only identifiable by the fact that one is right handed and the other left.

The side will be coached by Roger Tolchard, former England and Leicestershire bowler and Malvern College's cricket and rackets professional, whose two sons have been selected. The party will be led by Andy Murtagh, former Hampshire cricketers and a house master at the college. The team returns to the UK on Christmas Eve.