ENGLAND Ashes trio Mark Butcher, John Crawley and James Foster are the latest to be lined up as possible players in the Asia v Rest of the World indoor cricket internationals in Cardiff next month.
The matches will feature many of the world's top players under the Millennium Stadium roof on January 25 and 26.
Already confirmed are Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle (New Zealand), Courtney Walsh (West Indies), Andy Flower (Zimbabwe), Dominic Cork, Matthew Maynard (England), Anil Kumble, Mohammed Kaif (India) and Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Inzamman-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan).
The organisers also hope to confirm the great Brian Lara as a participant later this week along with other West Indian players.
England yesterday announced their final one-day line-up for the triangular series with Australia and Sri Lanka which begins on December 13 and ends on January 27.
And as it does not include Butcher, Crawley or Foster, that trio are now prime candidates for the Millennium Stadium fixture. "Basically we hope to include a batsman or two and hopefully a bowler from the England Ashes party," said Philip Pride of marketing company Dunster Pride.
"At the moment we don't know what bowlers are going to be fit.
"We are also talking to West Indies players and should have something to announce later this week, but Lara is still top of our agenda."
The Brits v Rest of the World series in Cardiff in October did not attract big crowds but proved a big hit in Asia where it was shown on TV.
"The reaction from viewers across the world was fantastic," said Pride, "especially when the second international went to the final ball."
The format used is known as power cricket and basically consists of two 15-overs-a-side innings with as many as tweleve runs possible for the biggest boundary hits.
Substitutions are allowed and their are bonus runs in specific scoring zones.
Tickets are available from the Millennium Stadium Box Office (08705-582582), via www.powercricket.com or from regional outlets to be advertised shortly.
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