FRINTON Cricket Club are going international with a Fijian flavour coming to Ashlyns Road.

The club have had their profile raised by the arrival of the Fijian national team, who are in town as part of their preparations for next month’s ICC World Cricket League division six competition.

Fiji are basing themselves at Ashlyns Road and, as well as training there, will play three warm-up matches against their hosts.

The first is taking place on Sunday, starting at 11am, and will be a family day, with live music, a bouncy castle and barbecue.

Admission is free.

“We were given a few options but are delighted to have arrived in Frinton,” said coach Shane Jurgensen.

“It’s a beautiful cricket ground with fantastic facilities and everyone has been very welcoming.

“This is exactly what we’re after, to help us prepare for what’s a big and very important competition.

“It’s the icing on the cake.

“It’s vital for us to adapt to English conditions and pitches, as we only have artificial surfaces back in Fiji.

“We’ll be training lots and playing some warm-up matches, to sharpen up and fine-tune our preparations.”

The Fijian team arrived in England on Saturday morning and are living on Mersea Island.

They had their first training session at Frinton on Monday.

The World Cricket League division six competition features eight teams and the top two will be promoted to division five.

It is a 50-over tournament scheduled that will take place at grounds across Essex, with two more over the Hertfordshire border in Bishop’s Stortford, and the final will be played at the County Ground, in Chelmsford.