ANDY Needham, formerly of Surrey and Middlesex and now with

Hertfordshire, captains the MCC side to play Scotland at Glenpark in a

three-day match starting today. In the 1970s Needham was, as a minor, a

regular attender at the Shawholm nets, where his father, Robin, played

for Poloc in the Western Union.

The only well-known name in the visiting representation from Lord's is

Gehan Mendis, the Lanacashire opening batsman. After having played for

Sussex from 1974 to 1985 the Sri Lankan joined Lancashire. Up to the

start of the present season Mendis has exceeded 1000 runs in first-class

cricket nine times, with his highest aggregate being 1756 in 1985. Twice

he has recorded double centuries.

Scotland have been forced to make one change. Douglas Brown of

Clackmannan County is unavailable and Aberdeenshire's Andy Bee has been

called up to fill the vacancy.

The hours of play in the first two days will be from 11am until 7pm,

while on the third day the start will be at 10.30am and the close at

5.30pm.

Scotland -- I L Philip (Poloc), B M W Patterson (Ayr), J G Williams

(West of Scotland), R G Swan (Carlton), captain, D H Johnston

(Aberdeenshire), O Henry (Arbroath), D J Haggo (Prestwick),

wicketkeeper, J G Williamson (Clydesdale), A W Bee (Aberdeenshire), J E

Moir (Aberdeen GSFP), K L P Sheridan (Poloc). Twelfth man -- G Salmond

(Arbroath).

MCC -- A J T Miller (Hertfordshire), G Mendis (Lancashire), A Needham

(Hertfordshire), captain, P J Mir (Pakistan), J Claughton

(Warwickshire), G Toogood (Oxford University), C Goldie (Hampshire),

wicketkeeper, R J Robinson, T Marriott, T D Towse (all MCC YC), S Lerigo

(Leicestershire). Twelfth man -- S Cooper (MCC YC).