Cambridge

A word from the Coach

Time flies but I can’t believe it has been 8 years since the University Cricketing Centres of Excellence scheme began. My belief in the worthiness of the scheme remains as strong now, if not stronger, than back in October 2000 and I only wish it was around when I was leaving school over 25 years ago.

County cricket staffs now are smaller and much more dominated now by Kolpak players, which makes breaking in to a county first team far more difficult for youngsters than it used to be. The UCCE scheme offers first class cricket, a thorough fitness and coaching programme as well as many more highly competitive games which should allow any good young player to develop their game, gain good experience whilst gaining a degree and not lose any ground to a county first team place, because whether anyone fulfils their cricketing ambitions or not cricket will not last for ever

Young cricketers who join university at one of the centres have a chance of playing 9 first class games during a 3 year undergraduate course. I was a professional cricketer and it was more than 3 years before I got to 9 first class games.

My aim as coach to the Cambridge centre is two fold: firstly if a youngster enrols on a course at either Cambridge University or Anglia Ruskin University and is already on a county staff or summer contract, I try to make sure their progress is maintained, and, with liason with their county coach, ensure everything is done to achieve this. Secondly, I try to provide an opportunity or ‘shop window’ for youngsters to impress a county and be invited to trials; the games against the counties and representing the combined UCCE teams who play against county 2X1’s in the summer (funded by the MCC) go a long way to help this.

Since the conception of the Cambridge UCCE, the following players have represented county first teams or been on county staffs:-

Simon Marshall – Lancs
Toni Palladino – Essex
Vikram Banerjee – Gloucs
Chris Wright - Essex
Garry Park – Durham
Tom Webley - Somerset
James Pyemont – Derbys
Tom Savill – Middx
Zoheb Sharif – Essex

All these players have now left my centre, which has left me with a squad with only a few players having county 2ndXI experience and no contracted county players as yet. Therefore, I am hoping one or two are looked at during this season but there is an opportunity for potential students thinking about coming to a UCCE to come to Cambridge and play some high profile and competitive matches.

My squad this year has just begun its campaign and is working very hard. It is a side that contains a winner of Supermarket Sweep, a former male stripper, some of the cleverest people you will meet and players who make me look clever. So look us up on the website or feel free to call me or visit Fenners, which is a lovely place to play cricket.

As emphasised by the MCC, the scheme is open to male and female students and although there are female players in my squad I would like to see more follow.

Chris Scott

Cricinfo Link: Chris Scott