Future England stars' funding boost

Date released: 23 November 2009

Talented young cricketers will have a greater opportunity to realise their potential following MCC’s £1.5m investment in the MCC Universities (MCCUs).

The MCC Committee decided to continue the funding as part of the Club’s commitment to grassroots cricket and as a result of the MCCU scheme’s impressive results:

In 2009:

• 34% of all England-qualified professional cricketers had attended a university
• 18% of which had come through the MCC University system - nearly one-in-five of all professional England-qualified cricketers

Graduate with honours: Ashes winner Strauss England captain Andrew Strauss (Durham) is the most famous MCC University graduate. Three current county captains have progressed through an MCC University too: Glamorgan’s Jamie Dalrymple (Oxford); Durham’s Will Smith (Durham); and Essex’s Mark Pettini (Cardiff).

Between 2010 and 2012, MCC will give the six MCCUs (at Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Leeds/Bradford, Loughborough and Oxford) £225,000 each to run their playing programmes and to ensure they can provide top-class coaching structures and facilities to students.

MCC will also spend over £150,000 on MCC University tournaments, tours, training and its participation in the ECB 2nd XI Championship.

The whole investment package will be subject to an annual review, with clear objectives being set for each Centre.

This new investment will take MCC’s financial commitment in the six MCC Universities to more than £4.5million since 2005, when it took over as the sole funder and administrator from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Stephenson: 'Delighted to continue investment' John Stephenson, MCC Assistant Secretary, said: "MCC is passionate about its role in university cricket and we are delighted to be able to continue our investment in the MCC Universities, who have a proven track record in producing excellent, well-rounded cricketers.

"MCC thinks it essential that the professional pathway continues to be open to aspiring cricketers who wish to continue their education.

"Not all players develop at the same rate and not all players will ultimately make the grade. In being given access to the very best facilities and coaching, in addition to their degree, cricketers at an MCC University can ultimately achieve on two levels."

David Graveney OBE, the ECB’s National Performance Manager, carried out a review of the six MCC Universities throughout 2009. He said: "I have been continually impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm shown by all involved in the MCC Universities.

"The MCCU coaches are outstanding, and the student’s commitment to training would dispel a few illusions of the `cushy University life`.

"By their support of the programme, MCC plays a vital role in creating an environment for gifted and talented athletes to prosper."

Dalrymple: 'Guidance at university better than county' Jamie Dalrymple, an England ODI cricketer and current Glamorgan captain, said: "I am delighted that MCC will continue to invest in university cricket.

"My experience at Oxford MCCU was very beneficial to my career and the level of guidance I received at University was at least on a par with that at my previous county.

"The rate of my development during those three years was probably only matched in the professional game when I was able to attend the National Academy at Loughborough.

"The role of the MCC Universities in providing a start point for cricketers who can develop their game, whilst also improving their long term prospects, is hugely important to them in their careers and to the health of the game as a whole."

Facts & figures

Of the 418 registered professional cricketers in England in 2009, only 73 do not qualify to play for England.

Of the remaining 345 eligible England cricketers: 119 have been to a university; 62 went to an MCC University post 2001. Of the 73 non-qualified registered players in 2009, 25% attended a university.