GREEN OPENS

26 APRIL 2003

Magical Mervyn to captain England

June 2003

HUNSTANTON Bowls Club professional Mervyn King has been selected to lead England in the English Bowling Association outdoor home countries international series early next month.
He has been chosen to captain a side of 24 players, most of whom played last year in this three-day event, against Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The selection means a lot to King (37) whose has won everything there is to win in the game.
He was world pairs champion with Tony Allcock in 1997 as well as reaching the semi-finals of the world singles event in 1994 and 1995.
He has also been English under-25 champion twice (1988/1999), senior national singles champion twice (1992/1994), British Isles singles champion (1996) and he capped a golden period of his bowling life in the nineties by winning the Champion of Champions title in 1994.
Despite his impressive pedigree King, who has been winning trophies since he was a teenager, counts his selection as captain as one of the most important of his bowling life.
A delighted King, speaking from his new home in Fakenham, said: "I hoped one day I might lead my country if I played in this event long enough.
"You need to have a long international career to get chosen."
King first played in the home countries international series in 1990; he was not picked again until 1995 but has been a permanent member of the team since 1997.
When he steps out onto the ring at Ayr, Scotland on Tuesday, July 1, it will be his ninth appearance.
"It's an honour to be picked and the best bit would be if I was able to go up and collect the cup at the end of the series," said King, aware that the English team would have completed a hat-trick of successes having won the event in 2002 and 2001.