The Derbyshire players are putting their final preparations in place ahead of their tour to Zimbabwe next month.
The squad and coaches will be based in Bulawayo for most of their three-week stay, starting on Sunday 8 March, where they will play a total of six matches, across three formats, against strong opposition.
The team will also intersperse regular training sessions with community-focused activities and training sessions with local clubs, as well as a visit to Victoria Falls.
The players will return to Derby on Sunday 29 March, three weeks before the County Championship opener against Leicestershire at The Pattonair County Ground.
Zimbabwe Tour match schedule:
Wednesday 11 March: Evening Reception with British Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Saturday 14 March: T20 vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Sunday 15 March: T20 vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Tuesday 17 March: 50-Over match vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Thursday 19 March: 50-Over match vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Sat 21 – Mon 23 March: Three-Day match vs Chairman’s XI
Wed 25 – Fri 27 March: Three-Day match vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Head of Cricket, Dave Houghton said: “We will be facing some strong opposition during the tour, which will provide ideal preparation for the 2020 season.
“We also want to give the players some life experiences because as cricketers, we can become solely focused on the game sometimes and it’s important to make the most of these opportunities.
“Hopefully this tour will open the door for further English County tours in future, which may help Zimbabwe Cricket get back on its feet.”
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