BURY Cricket Club plays host to one of the finest collections of world talent ever assembled today.

A select XI from the local Manchester Association club take on Lashings Cricket Club at their Radcliffe Road ground this afternoon.

Lashings are a club team based at a Kent wine bar whose team sheet reads like a Who's Who of cricket.

Already confirmed for the Bury fixture are names such as Jimmy Adams, Stuart Williams, Junior Murray, Sherwin Campbell, all of the West Indies, Grant Flower and Stuart Carlisle from Zimbabwe, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Zahid of Pakistan and New Zealander Chris Harris.

The game is being held to raise money for Hope Hospital's renal unit at the request of Bury professional Steve Dublin who underwent life-saving kidney surgery there a couple of years ago.

Steve will captain the Bury side which will be made up mainly of local professionals and a couple of Bury players.

It promises to be a massive occasion for the club, who join Kent, Lancashire and India on the Lashings fixture list for 2002.

The event will start at 1.30pm with plenty of opportunities for autograph hunters and fun for all with family rides, food and trade stands. Admission is £3 for adults £1 for children under 16. For further information contact Peter Allen on 0161-797 1791 or 0161-834 4100 or Jeff Coles on 0161-764 4291.

SHOAIB AKHTAR -- The Rawalpindi Express

Shoaib Akhtar currently has 45 one-day caps and 16 Test caps. He made his Test debut for Pakistan against the West Indies at Rawalpindi in the second Test in 1997-98. His destructive pace has already destroyed many a batting line-up worldwide. Shoaib enjoys fast and bouncy English pitches. His delivery has been timed at 97.7 miles per hour. Is he the fastest bowler in the world? Will he soon break the 100mph barrier? Batting style: Right hand bat. Bowling style: Right arm fast (Very fast!!)

JIMMY ADAMS

A former West Indies captain, appointed in March 2000, Jimmy has 127 one-day caps and 54 Test caps. He made his Test debut for the West Indies against South Africa at Bridgetown in 1991-92. A true all-rounder and described as one of the most determined batsmen in the world, he is brilliant anywhere in the field and a fine wicketkeeper. Batting style: Left hand bat. Bowling style: Slow left arm orthodox.

STUART WILLIAMS

A great West Indies star with 57 one-day caps and 28 Test caps. Made his Test debut for the West Indies against England at St John's, Antigua in the fifth Test in 1993-94. Has excellent captaincy qualities and leadership skills. Stuart has delighted many crowds with some splendid sixes. Batting style: Right hand bat. Bowling style: Right arm medium.

JUNIOR MURRAY

Another international star. A former West Indies wicketkeeper with 55 one-day caps and 31 Test caps. Made his Test debut for the West Indies against Australia at Sydney in the third Test in 1992-93. Mr "Cool As Ice" Murray is also a great performer in most field positions. Batting style: Right hand bat. Wicketkeeper.

RICHIE RICHARDSON (Club captain)

AN absolute gentleman and ambassasdor of the game. A former West Indies captain with 224 one-day caps and 86 Test caps. Made his debut for the West Indies against India in Bombay in the fourth Test in 1983-84. He took over the captaincy of the West Indies in 1992 and captained his country 23 times. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1992. Batting style: Right hand bat. Bowling style: Right arm medium.

STUART CARLISLE

Stuart was born in Salisbury on May 10 1972. He made his Test debut for Zimbabwe against Pakistan in Harare on February 22 1995. Staurt has played in 96 one-day internationals and 27 Tests, scoring over 3,400 runs in the process. His highest score in a Test match is 77 and he has hit 121 in a one-day international. Batting style: Right hand batsman. Bowling style: Right arm medium.

GRANT FLOWER

Born in Salisbury on December 20 1970, Grant made his Test debut for Zimbabwe against India in Harare on October 18 1992. He has played in 61 Test matches and 182 one-day internationals. Grant's highest score in a test match is 201 and he hhas hit 142 in a one-day international. He has scored close on 9,000 international runs and has six Test match tons and 33 one-day half centuries to his name. Batting style: Right hand batsman. Bowling style: Slow left arm orthodox.

CHRIS HARRIS

Former Ramsbottom professional Harris was born in Christchurch on November 20 1969. He made his Test debut for New Zealand against Sri Lanka at Moratuwa on November 27 1992. Chris has played in 21 Tests and 209 one-day internationals, scoring over 4,500 runs in the process. Batting style Left hand batsman. Bowling style: Right arm medium.

MOHAMMAD ZAHID

Mohammad Zahid is another new lethal fast bowler from Punjab thus keeping alive the Province's tradition of producing fast bowlers. He is said to be a genuine fast bowler produced after a long period of time. He took 11 wickets on his Test debut against New Zealand and became the only Pakistani to have 10 wickets or more on his debut. Although he still needs some improvement in his line and length, his bowling is really devastating and can tear a batting side to pieces. He picked up a back injury on the tour to Sri Lanka and underwent an operation. He has still to return to the international scene after this setback.