There will be feast of cricket next week when Oxford hosts International Festival for Wandering Clubs.

Oxford 2000, arranged by Cricketer magazine, will celebrate cricket played by what are often disparagingly called 'the jazzhat brigade', with no overall winner, but with emphasis on fair play, sportsmanship, friendship and a commitment to win.

The festival is sponsored by Cricinfo.com, while the Lord's Taverners charity will be supported by any profits.

Twenty-eight teams will play over four days on14 grounds in the Oxford and Abingdon area, including Radley College, Keble, Wadham, Trinity and Queen's colleges.

There will be three overseas teams taking part- the De Flamingo's from Holland, Stanley CC from South Africa, and USA side, Gentlemen of Philadelphia.

Local interest surrounds the South Oxfordshire Amateurs, who will be playing over all four days of the festival, led by their president Tony Lurcock.

Their matches will be on Monday v Leicestershire Gentlemen at St John's; Tuesday v Frogs at Brasenose; Wednesday v Invalids at St Edward's School; and Thursday v Gentlemen of Staffordshire, again at St Edward's.

The feature match of the week will be at Christ Church on Wednesday with Free Foresters playing I Zingari for first time since 1876!

Mark Nicholas, former Hampshire captain and television presenter, will play for Free Foresters.

Keble College will accommodate many of the visiting cricketers with a reception on Monday evening, Stage Cricket Club review on Wednesday, and a festival dinner in Keble Hall on Thursday, with guest speakers Lord McLaurin and Christopher Martin-Jenkins, with more than 300 players attending.

Oxford 2000 will finish on Friday, with 20 wandering clubs playing at North Oxford Golf Club in a team contest managed by Five Star Events.

**For full fixture list go to Select next story menu below and choose 'Cricket: Oxford 2000 fixtures'