On Saturday 23 November 2002, the Hebron School (the British 'international' school established in 1899) in Ootacamund will play hosts to the cricket team of the British Deputy High Commission (BDHC) in Chennai. It is hoped that this will be the start of an annual round of fixtures between the two clubs.

Both teams go into the match with lousy form behind them (and "lousy" is being rather polite to the Chennai team).

Although Hebron School have recorded no victories in their last three games, the school's Principal, Alastair Reid, said that his team were still "quietly confident of getting a result."

Sadly, the BDHC team have no grounds to be as optimistic. Long tiring working hours, coupled with a unique inability to play the game has resulted in the team winning only one of their last 12 games. But according to the skipper, Joshua Jesudason, the team spirit remained surprisingly high and said "the boys were really up for the game in Ooty".

Up they will certainly be as the school is 7500 feet above sea level but whether that will be enough to secure victory against a youthful cosmopolitan Hebron team (including English, Americans, South Africans, Australians and a Scot) who will also be using young fit students cunningly disguised as staff, remains to be seen.

The game will start at midday (or thereabouts) at Hebron School. So if you are in the area and fancy watching some real cricket, this match is definitely not for you.

CricInfo will bring you the result of the game next week.

© CricInfo