IF Mother Nature was to be kind just once this summer, she'll allow a ray of sunshine to beat down on Darwen cricket's calypso king tomorrow.

For West Indies veteran Keith Semple is hoping the showers steer well clear of Birch Hall for his Caribbean-themed testimonial game.

The invitational match - a West Indian XI versus a Rest of the World XI - is being held to honour the long-serving Darwen captain before he calls time on a fabulous playing career in England.

After serving the Northern League club for seven years as both a professional and an amateur, Semple returns to his native Guyana at the end of this summer, where he plans to pursue a career in graphic design.

But before the popular all-rounder heads back to Georgetown, Darwen are determined to give him a rousing send-off.

A star-studded cast of former international players and professionals in the Lancashire leagues are set to come together.

For the West Indies, Semple leads a team featuring Test cricketers Jermaine Lawson, Ryan Hinds, Sherwin Campbell and Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Darwen's current professional, Pakistani Atif Ashraf, heads the Rest of the World side which also includes Chorley seamer Stephen John and Church's Ruvin Peiris.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow because a lot of work has been put into organising it," admits Semple.

"It should be fun for everyone, especially as we haven't been able to play much in the last few weeks.

"There will be a Caribbean theme to it - it will be quite exciting."

For Semple, he is well accustomed to England's unpredictable climate, having spent the last 13 summers - the last seven at Darwen - on our shores.

But despite his laid-back nature, the 36-year-old wouldn't have our weather any other way and is sad at the prospect of bidding farewell to East Lancashire.

He said: "I'm a West Indian through and through, but Darwen is like a second home to me.

"I'm comfortable being in Darwen as I am being back home in Guyana.

"I've been here for seven years and enjoyed all of it.

"My first impressions of Darwen weren't very good - mostly because of the weather and it's obviously a different part of the world to where I'm from.

"But I got help from the guys at the club. They were friendly in getting me settled in.

Semple added: "I'm sad to be leaving Darwen. I'm grateful for them bringing me here."

Tomorrow's 25-overs-a-side testimonial match starts at 5pm. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for juniors and OAPs.