Business advisers Ernst & Young have bowled over trainee accountant Charles Forward by supporting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to play in an MCC cricket tour of South Africa.

Romsey & OTs cricketer Forward, who works with the Southampton-based audit team at Ernst & Young and is due to qualify as a chartered accountant this September, will fly to Johannesburg later this month with the MCC touring squad.

Ten one-day matches in two weeks are planned against a variety of teams including the Namibia A side, under-23s, Presidents XI and five games against the full Namibian team, with fixtures in Windhoek, Skakopmund and Blumfelde.

The tour is being organised by the MCC as part of its role in developing interest and enthusiasm in cricket around the world.

"It is a great honour to be selected for an MCC A-tour, which most players at my level will experience only once in a lifetime," said Forward, who has been a playing member of the MCC since leaving school. He has also played for the Hampshire Cricket Board XI, Hampshire II and the Southern Cricket League.