CHARLIE Morris has been included in a strong MCC squad who will be touring South Africa in late December and early January.

The Worcestershire paceman is relishing the chance to test his skills in conditions that will provide a fresh challenge after three months of winter work at New Road and Malvern College.

MCC, managed by former England paceman and current selector Angus Fraser, will play five 50-over games and one two-day match during a two-week period from December 27 until January 10 next year.

Experienced county professionals in the squad include Owais Shah (Hampshire), Wes Durston (Derbyshire), Ned Eckersley (Leicestershire), John Simpson (Middlesex) and Chris Wright (Warwickshire).

Morris can also catch up with County team-mate Moeen Ali with the squad due to attend a day of the first Test in Durban and the second Test in Cape Town.

He could also be facing Worcestershire teammate Brett D’Oliveira, with one of the MCC matches scheduled against his current club side St Augustine at the Basil D’Oliveira Sports Complex.

The 23-year-old, who picked up 44 wickets last season in County Championship Division One, said: “I got a call from John Stephenson (MCC) and he asked if I would like to go on the tour of South Africa with the MCC.

“I’m delighted to say I will be flying out on December 27. I’m looking forward to it.

“There will be some good opposition and it is a really good squad going out from the MCC with a lot of other county professionals. It will be really nice to get to know them a bit more and play some competitive cricket.

“It will be beneficial to get some good cricket under my belt and to go and play abroad in different conditions is always a great opportunity.

“That helps to develop your skills as a bowler and to understand what is required on different wickets and in different climates. We go to Durban (Kingsmead) and Cape Town (Newlands) to play on the Test grounds and will be watching a couple of days of the Tests featuring South Africa and England. Hopefully, I will catch up with Mo if he is not too busy.”

Morris will fly out from Heathrow with the MCC to Durban on December 27 and they are scheduled to play a Durban League XI three days later on December 30.

Other matches are planned against a KuraZula-Natal XI (December 31) and, after flying to Cape Town on January 1, versus Western Province Cricket Association XI (January 3-4), St Augustine (January 6), TBC (January 7) and a Boland XI (January 8).