ENGLAND cricketers Paul Nixon, Min Patel and Alan Igglesden will join forces overseas next month to represent Kent in a triangular indoor cricket competition in France.

Martin Saggers and former county captain Steve Marsh will also be in the squad of Kent players in St Omer at an indoor sixes event organised in aid of the club’s 2002 beneficiary, former England fast bowler Martin McCague, who will complete Kent’s side.

The triangular tournament, for the new Kentish Gazette European Cricket Sixes Trophy, will feature McCague’s Kent side, a team representing the France senior squad and a team from the host nation’s junior team.

The event organisers, who hope to involve Belgium and the Netherlands in next season’s competition, are running two coaches to give Kent supporters an opportunity to cheer the Kent team to victory on Wednesday, March 6.

Coach one will leave from Otford at 6am to pick up passengers at Kent’s St Lawrence ground at Canterbury by 7.30am before heading to the Eurotunnel terminal near Folkestone for a 9.20am departure. Coach two will collect passengers from Maidstone Services at junction eight on the M20 at 7.15am and then from the Relyon Car Park in Sheriton near the Eurotunnel terminal at 8am.

After the crossing, both coaches will then travel in convoy to Cassel for a short sightseeing trip around the historic town and a three-course lunch at le Sauvage Restaurant.

The supporters will head back to St Omer and the town’s 500-seater indoor hall for the inaugural triangular tournament, after which there will be time to buy duty free before heading back to England for 9pm.

Tickets are now available for the all-inclusive trip are now available priced at £40 a head. Details and tickets are obtainable from John Bray on 01303 269152 or Ted Maycock on 01322 667456.