MCC 5 March 2007

[Anguillan newsboy]

MCC University cricketers challenged to follow in Monty's footsteps

Date released: 5 March 2007

As Monty Panesar, England’s talismanic spinner and former MCC University cricketer, gears up to help spearhead the country’s Cricket World Cup campaign, 45 of the best MCC University cricketers are aiming to follow in his footsteps after attending a specialist training seminar at Lord’s.

The two-day coaching seminar at the Home of Cricket brought together the leading fast bowlers and wicket-keepers from the six MCC University Centres – Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Leeds/Bradford, Loughborough and Oxford.

Specialist coaching sessions were overseen by the six MCC University Head Coaches - including former England cricketers Graham Dilley and Graeme Fowler.

John Stephenson , another former England (and ex-Durham University) cricketer, who is MCC’s Head of Cricket, said: “MCC is investing heavily in University cricket. We believe that it is a superb opportunity for promising players to hone their skills in a professional environment whilst continuing with their academic studies. These seminars are designed to pool our coaching and playing talents, to give the cricketers the ‘Lord’s experience’ and access to the very best facilities. The standard of cricket has been very high, which has no doubt impressed the county coaches scouting for talent.”

The MCC University seminar attracted a number of visiting county coaches - including Gloucestershire’s Mark Alleyne and Northamptonshire’s David Ripley – who were looking to recruit some of the best un-signed talent in England.

An additional two-day seminar will be held later this year, again in the MCC Indoor Cricket School, for the country’s leading MCC University batsmen and spin bowlers.

The University cricket season kicks off on Saturday 14th April with all six MCC Universities taking on county teams.

MCC invests over £500k each year in the University Centres of Cricketing Excellence scheme - £70k to each MCC University plus an additional £100k that is available each year for capital expenditure projects, such as net facilities.

In addition to Monty Panesar (Loughborough), recent MCC University cricketers include Middle*** and England’s Jamie Dalrymple (ex-Oxford), England Women’s Caroline Atkins (ex-Durham) and Es***’s Mark Pettini (ex-Cambridge).

The season opening fixtures for the MCC University teams are as follows:
Oxford v Middle***; Somerset v Loughborough; Hampshire v Cardiff; Cambridge v Northamptonshire; Surrey v Leeds / Bradford; and Durham v Nottinghamshire.