MCC Universities information & history

MCC Universities badge MCC has been supporting MCC Universitys (MCCUs) from the beginning of the 2005 cricket season, since when they have been known collectively as MCC Universities.

MCC Universities are aimed at male cricketers with the potential to play, or who are already playing, first-class cricket, and female cricketers of senior, county, regional or England standard. Each centre intends to provide the best of both worlds to talented cricketers who wish to continue with an academic career - an excellent cricketing education giving the chance to fulfil playing ambitions, while job prospects outside of the game remain unaffected.

Monty Panesar a former MCC Universities student The most famous 'graduate' of the MCC Universities initiative - England spinner Monty Panesar (left) - recommends the scheme to anyone who wants to gain further qualifications and still be able to develop their full potential as a cricketer. “I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to combine cricket with studying for a degree”, he said.

MCC’s annual investment in each of the six participating 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 student cricketers. Each of the six centres - at Cambridge, Cardiff/Glamorgan, Durham, Leeds/Bradford, Loughborough and Oxford - uses its annual grant to cover basic coaching and playing costs, as well as the latest innovations in video analysis, sports science and medical support. They may then apply for a share of the additional funding for the maintenance and upgrading of facilities, such as the installation of outdoor nets or the replacement of pitch covers.

MCC Universities were first introduced in October 2000 by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Both the British Universities Sports Association and the Professional Cricketers’ Association were consulted at the outset, and both organisations are fully supportive of the initiative. MCC has now become the sole source of external funding, although the ECB continues to have input in the scheduling of fixtures and umpire allocation - as well as appointing a Performance Manager to the MCC Advisory Panel which monitors the programme.

MCC’s Chairman of Cricket, Tony Lewis, is hopeful that the scheme will continue to develop players with the potential to represent their national team. "The MCC Universities give young players the ability to further their cricket careers without compromising their education; in fact, they are able to do both to a very high standard."

"Monty Panesar, who left Loughborough the summer before he made his international debut, is the highest profile graduate in recent years. Before him, Andrew Strauss, James Foster and Caroline Atkins have all achieved good degrees from Durham and gone on to play cricket for England, while two current Loughborough students - Laura Marsh and Lydia Greenway - are members of the England women's squad.

"We hope that, with the increased funding from MCC, more talented young players will emerge from university cricket and make the transition to the professional game."

Caroline Atkins, Durham University and MCC Young Cricketer Cricketers at MCC Universities are encouraged to become Playing Members of the Club and represent MCC in out-matches (including first-class games) and on overseas tours. Duncan Bradshaw, a student at the Oxford Centre, travelled to Brazil and Chile with an MCC tour in March 2007, while Zoheb (Zobi) Sharif, from the Cambridge Centre, played for MCC against the Champion County (Sussex) at Lord’s in the opening match of the 2007 season. Nicky Shaw, who represented England Women in their 2005 World Cup campaign and is currently studying at Loughborough, was an MCC Young Cricketer in 2003-04, and England batter Caroline Atkins, formerly of Durham, joined the Young Cricketers for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

An MCC-produced prospectus, which lists the academic institutions involved in the MCC Universities, together with information on how to apply, may be downloaded by clicking on the link at the top of this page. To request a hard copy Email MCCUs or phone 020 7616 8751.