KENT’S Geraint Jones and James Tredwell are the two most senior cricketers among the MCC’s 17-strong party touring Papua New Guinea and New Zealand over the next fortnight.

Jones, the deposed England wicketkeeper and Tredwell, a former England A skipper, form the backbone of a relatively inexperienced side that also includes Glamorgan’s wicketkeeper batsman Mark Wallace.

The trip represents a ‘home-coming’ for Jones who was born in Kundiawa in Papua New Guinea back in 1976. His father Emrys and late mother Carol, served as supply teachers there.

The squad will play three games on the islands before moving on to complete the tour in New Zealand.

The Kent pair return to England on March 17, just in time to join Kent’s six-day pre-season training trip to La Manga in Spain, which departs on March 18.

MCC tour party: Mark Rollinson (manager), Luke Marshall (captain), Ben Claypole, Danny Evans, Matthew Eyles, David Harrison, Simon Hawk, Geraint Jones, Ronnie Kotkamp, Mark Lawson, Scott McHardy, Michael Powell, James Tredwell, Mark Wallace, Peter Heseltine (physio), Barrie Leadbeater (umpire), Don Shelley (scorer).