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Student Cricketers Given First-Class Support from MCC

A career in professional sport is the dream for many young men and women.  What better job is there than one which enables you to make money out of something that you both excel at and love doing?  The route to the top in sport is notoriously steep, however; by its very nature, the competition is fierce and those who don’t make it far outnumber those that do.  Choosing between ‘chasing the dream’ and continuing with academic studies is a tough decision for any talented young sportsperson.

Aspiring cricketers no longer face such a difficult choice, however, thanks to the MCC University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCEs).  Established in 2000 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) – the governing body of cricket in England and Wales – UCCEs enable young cricketers to combine their playing ambitions with their continuing education.

MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), the world’s most active cricket-playing club, is better known for hosting Test matches at Lord’s, and for its garish red-and-yellow club colours.  But, since 2004, MCC has been solely responsible for the funding of the UCCEs.  An initial annual investment of £50,000 in each of the six centres has now grown to £70,000 per annum, with up to £100,000 available each year for capital expenditure projects.  In addition, through its ever-expanding international fixture list, MCC is uniquely placed to offer playing opportunities to these student cricketers.

The six Centres – based at Cambridge, Cardiff / Glamorgan, Durham, Leeds / Bradford, Loughborough and Oxford – are responsible for employing their own coaching and administration staff, but each has close links with MCC through an appointed mentor.  The scheme is co-ordinated centrally from Lord’s, under the leadership of MCC’s Head of Cricket, John Stephenson.

“We provide each centre with the financial resources to develop a first-class practice environment, as well as to cover their day-to-day running costs,” says Stephenson, a former England cricketer and Durham University student.  “This covers anything from coaches’ salaries to accommodation for away matches to the latest video analysis equipment.  We also want the Centres to be able to maintain their facilities to the highest possible standards, so have allocated additional funding for capital projects such as upgrading outdoor nets or replacing pitch covers.”

The initial step on the ladder to professional cricket in England is gaining a contract with a first-class county.

“When we took over the UCCE initiative, we were determined that it would be about more than simply writing out cheques.  We have taken an active interest in the development of the emerging players.  In addition to including UCCE students in our overseas touring parties (the Club has so far taken sixteen students to destinations as diverse as Canada and Nambia & Uganda), we have developed a domestic fixture list which provides unrivalled opportunities for them to demonstrate their potential.”

A series of matches, played against first-class county teams in the early stages of the season, enables students to perform in front of county coaches, who are always on the look-out for talented players to join their squads.  For those who don’t make an impression in these matches, a second opportunity exists when combined university sides play against county Second XI teams towards the end of the season.

The biggest UCCE success story so far is England spinner Monty Panesar.  Monty was a student at Loughborough University between 2002-2005, graduating with a degree in computing management the summer before he made his international debut.  “I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to combine cricket with studying for a degree,” he said.  “I would recommend the UCCE scheme to anyone who wants to gain further qualifications – and still be able to develop their full potential as a cricketer.”

For further information about the MCC University Centres of Cricketing Excellence, please visit www.lords.org/mcc/mcc-universities or contact the MCC Cricket Office on 020 7616 8605.