UCCE ones to watch: Alex Blake

Date released: 28 April 2009

With the University season underway, MCC profiles players from each of the six UCCEs (University Centres of Cricketing Excellence) who will be hoping to make a mark this summer. Next up: Leeds/Bradford's Alex Blake.

One to watch: Alex Blake It is a nice twist of cricketing fate that a cricketer hailed by his coach and several team-mates as a ‘one to watch’ in 2009 should hail from the same Kent club as the MCC President for the year - Derek Underwood.

Alex Blake shares roots at Beckenham CC not just with Underwood but also Rob Key, whose generosity with young players at the club and Kent alike is praised by the young Leeds/Bradford UCCE all-rounder.

Club links: MCC President Derek Underwood shares ties to Beckenham CC Blake describes himself as "a batter who bowls" but when he made his first class debut for Kent against the New Zealanders in 2008, it was Key’s heavy scoring (178*) that prevented the new boy getting a chance in the middle with the bat, and he had to make do with four overs in a curtailed match.

Nevertheless the experience further intensified his unwavering desire to make it as a professional cricketer - as Blake says "I’m not sure what I’d do otherwise."

So why is a man who only wants to be a professional bothering going through the University system? "I’ve always wanted to go to a UCCE and coming to Leeds has brought with it all sorts of opportunities.

"Firstly, I’m taking a degree in Sport, Leisure and Culture to give me a good grounding in sport should the cricket fall through.

"Secondly, it gives me the chance to train during the winter and really work on fitness. And thirdly, I’ll be getting some games in the Yorkshire League which is very strong and means I’ll get experience of different players, pitches and conditions."

Blake has risen up through the ranks at Kent and will be a member of the County’s academy set up during 2009 and 2010. He explains: "Because Kent have a reasonably small staff, young players there get a lot of opportunities to see the top guys close up - we do a lot of bowling at them in nets and are often 12th man in games.

"It means you know the level you need to be at to break through."

Before starting at Leeds Met, Blake took a year out and played Grade cricket in Perth. "It definitely toughens you up playing out there!" he says. "They tend to play games over two weekends, which makes players value their wickets, because if they fail it could be three weeks before they get another chance."

Since he’s a first year, Leeds/Bradford have Blake until 2011. He will be hoping to get off to an explosive start in 2009.