MCCU vs. Middlesex 2nd XI - Day One.

5 August 2010

Ellie Fielding has just finished a season captaining Cambridge Women and MCC sent her back to Fenner's to catch up with the Combined side.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MCC Combined University side travelled to Fenner’s in Cambridge off the back of four draws and one victory hoping to prove themselves against Middlesex II as part of their campaign in the Second Eleven Championship.

The team comprises the best unsigned players from the MCC Universities (MCCU) programme, each hoping one day be signed to play professional cricket. The Combined University scheme is in place to facilitate this transition from university to county cricket by bringing these budding young players to the notice of the counties they play against, and competing in the Second Eleven Championship is an excellent stage on which they can showcase their talents.

As the rain poured down it was clear that there was no internal divisions within this combined team of players who spend the summer term at university competing against each other: the cards were out and spirits were high amongst the young men united in their love of the game and their hope to play cricket professionally.

Ex-England players Clive Radley and John Emburery wait for the rain to stop.

MCCU coach Clive Radley, said he was pleased with the performances so far: “Despite being unsigned talent they have held their own against the 2nd XI county sides and everyone has chipped in with the bat”.

There have been notable performances from captain Jak Martin (Oxford MCCU) scoring 148 against Essex and 68 against Hampshire, Cardiff MCCU’s Ryan Bishop and Daniel Bendon who made 123 against Northants and 105 against Sussex respectively, and Rob Taylor (Loughborough MCCU) who scored 156 against Surrey. There have also been some excellent performances with the ball from Alex Welsh (Loughborough MCCU) who took 4-91 against Northants, and Tom Craddock (Leeds/Bradford MCCU) who snared 5-111 against Surrey.

As the boys warm up over a game of football, ever-hopeful for some cricket, Radley shares the experiences of two young cricketers who have benefitted enormously from the MCCU scheme. Oxford MCCU’s left arm spinner and right hand bat, Ed Young, played in the MCCU Combined team against Sussex at the start of their season whilst trailing for several counties. He has proven to be a much sought after talent – forcing his way into the Unicorns squad and then signing up for Gloucestershire yesterday. Young will play for Gloucestershire for the rest of this season and the summer of 2011 to allow him to finish his degree at Oxford Brookes. He said: “The scheme has helped me 100%, because it was through Oxford MCCU that I was introduced to Gloucestershire’s bowling coach Stuart Barnes. It is a great system to train and push players towards a career in pro cricket while still allowing students to get a degree.”

Pete Turnbull puts his best foot forward.

Another success story from the MCCU side is Cardiff’s Rory Burns who made 131 against Sussex and 166 against Essex in his first three games. Off the back of these centuries Burns has attracted the attention of Hampshire whose second team he played for yesterday against his home county Surrey, scoring 118 not out. Burns is hopeful for a county signing soon after his performance with the bat yesterday and throughout the season for Cardiff and the combined side.

Even though a ball had still not been bowled by the time tea, the enthusiasm of the MCCU cricketers remained high. The success of their team-mates clearly shows that success in the side will be noticed by county coaches. Despite being affiliated to different universities and having different home counties the students are united by their passion for the game and the dream of one day following in the footsteps of Young to be signed to play first-class cricket.

The rain finally relented after tea for enough time for Middlesex to score 30 off thirteen overs before more rain and bad light brought an end to the day.