Yorkshire's Bradford-born batsman Anthony McGrath and his county spin colleague Richard Dawson are members of an MCC party which left yesterday on a two-week tour of Argentina.

The 13-man squad,

captained by former England skipper Mike Gatting and managed by Sir Tim Rice, also includes Pudsey Congs' batsman Andrew Bairstow, the elder son of former Yorkshire and England wicketkeeper David, and Durham under-19s right-arm seamer Jonny Wightman - who plays for Leeds-Bradford Universities' Centre of Excellence.

Essex batsman Andy Flower, who played 63 Tests for Zimbabwe, is also in the party.

"The tour helps mark the 200th anniversary of the Argentine Cricket Association and I am looking forward to it very much," said McGrath.

"It will be good to break up the winter with some outdoor cricket and it should help to get me tuned up for the new season with Yorkshire.

"Last year the weather was not ideal in March and early April for our outdoor preparations and six games in two weeks will just set me up for when I report back to Yorkshire in five weeks' time.

"I enjoyed a couple of months' break after going on Yorkshire's tour of India in the autumn but just before Christmas I was starting to feel ready for the new season.

"I am really looking forward to it and it is good to be back in Division One of the Championship. I feel that if we can keep the mainstay of the team together then we should do very well and have a successful time."

The party flew to Buenos Aires where their six games will include three against the Argentine national side. They will also hold a coaching

clinic for local youngsters.

Sir Tim said: "We have taken with us the ideal blend of experience and youth with four former Test players and some youngsters like Jonny Wightman, who we hope may be at the start of a similarly successful career."

John Stephenson, MCC's head of cricket, who last year attended Yorkshire's match at Headingley with Leeds-Bradford Universities, said: "We have selected a strong squad which should be very competitive in all matches and particularly in the three games against the national side.

"The opportunity for coaching is equally important and I am sure that our lads will enjoy the experience just as much as the youngsters."