THE countries involved are synonymous with the greats of world cricket.

The venue is less feted internationally, but when India A and West Indies A go head-to-head in Croydon next week, it will be another feather in the cap for Whitgift School.

Fresh from hosting another Surrey County Cricket LV Championship match and Clydesdale Bank 40 contest in their now-annual festival week, the South Croydon school's reputation as a first-class ground is set to rise further as it stages this year's second ECB International A Test Match.

Simon Beck, Whitgift's sports master, has been fronting the organisation of the fixture and says the school's enduring ability to attract top-level cricket is testament to the groundstaff, who maintain the North Field pitch to a high standard despite it being well used by the school teams.

"The wicket has been given good reviews for the last eight or nine years," he said.

"We play anything from U12s to school first XI fixtures on it so it has to handle 52 games a season.

"Our estates manager Ken Emmings and his team are working on it every day though and it is in excellent condition."

New Zealand A were due to be the opposition for India A but their cricket board postponed the tour, leading West Indies to replace them.

The first Test began yesterday at Grace Road, Leicester and the two sides will meet again for the first of four days' cricket at Whitgift next Thursday (June 17).

More than 1,000 tickets have already been sold internally and all spectators will be able to buy tickets on the gate for a day's play with parking available at the school for £5.

With support being provided by local business in the form of sponsorship and even a curry tent, courtesy of South Croydon's Chat House, Beck hopes the staging of the match can be of benefit to the wider Croydon community and not just the school.

"It improves the kudos of Croydon and shows the town in a different light, as somewhere with a bit of green space," he said.

"It's a match which should appeal to a lot of people in Croydon as there are big Indian and West Indian communities in the town itself and in Norwood.

"So we are hopeful of big crowds. From past experience they find the out-grounds like Croydon and Guildford get better crowds than somewhere like Grace Road."

Play starts at 11am on each of the four days. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s. For more information call 02086339940.