Heworth cricketer Mike Rice will be hoping to emulate the likes of Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen this summer when he represents his country against Australia.

Mike has been called up to the Great Britain Transplant cricket team which will take on their Australian visitors during three one-day internationals and two two-day test matches in July less than a year after England enjoyed a thrilling Ashes victory over their tourists from Down Under last year.

The GB squad consists of players who have all had life-saving transplants.

Mike, 23, had his first three courses of chemotherapy at York District Hospital in 2004 before undergoing a bone marrow transplant in March 2005 at Nottingham's City Hospital.

The York University pupil, who is currently studying for a Masters degree in history, has now recovered from cancer and is looking forward to a bit of Aussie bashing in a series that will see the winners presented with the David Hookes Memorial Shield. He said: "We are out for a bit of revenge because the Australians won the last series when it was played over there in 2004. We were struggling for a team though then and had only just formed but now we have a younger side and expect to be fully competitive."

Mike's addition to the squad should strengthen the team, if only for his coaching ability.

The Heworth CC all-rounder is Level Two qualified and coaches the York and District Senior League club's second XI.

Despite describing himself modestly as "an all-rounder who is a very medium-paced bowler," Mike also boasts best figures of 5-40 and a highest innings of 75 not out - both achieved while playing for Nottinghamshire side Cottingham before he moved to York.

He added: "I offered my services to the Great Britain team as they didn't have a coach and because I did not know, health-wise, whether I'd be able to play but, as far as you can know, I've been given the all-clear from the cancer and I'm hoping to do both."

Mike has already met up with his new team-mates during net sessions at Edgbaston and Loughborough and enjoyed the camaraderie of a dressing room full of players who have shared very similar life experiences.

He said: "It sometimes gets a bit like comparing war wounds in the changing room with all the scars on display from operations but there's a good atmosphere. We won't be hyping the games up too much but we want to win."

The series will be split into two parts - the first half will take place at venues in Newcastle and the second in Bath.

Updated: 13:18 Saturday, May 20, 2006