Former MCCU/ UCCE Players

If you are a former player please fill out and return a 'Former Player' form to be added to this list.

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Ed Young

Gloucestershire CCC (MCCU Captain 2010-11)

"The Oxford MCCU set up made my time at university very productive, and I didn't live a stereotypical student lifestyle. I entered the MCCU in my 1st year, playing to a decent standard of cricket.
I had always had my sights on playing professional cricket, but never really knew how to go about achieving it. I played youth age group cricket for Surrey until I was 19 and was palmed off, so I had no real way of breaking into the professional set up. This is where the MCCU really helped me, it opened my eyes in how to train professionally and what hard work feels like. With four fitness sessions a week at 7:30am, attending lectures and trying to have a social life, organisation was of the essences. My characteristics were tested during my time at the MCCU, my commitment to training, time management and work commitments to name a few. But through the MCCU I was able to train everyday, and that is what professionals do, they repeat skills and work hard, but I was also given opportunities to improve my game through external coaches who helped me with my batting and bowling. The MCCU gave me opportunities, and this came in many forms, I spent time out at the Global Cricket School in Pune, India, and also had a pre-season tour to Trinidad and Tobago, which were both great trips. I was given the chance to trial at some nets with Kent and Worcestershire during the off-season, which lead to a few trials in the summer, but the biggest opportunity comes in the form of the 1st class games. This is the pinnacle of the scheme, I could measure my cricket against others who were playing the game as their job, and see where I stood against the rest. I was lucky enough to captain the MCCU in my final year, this was a great opportunity, especially the counties games.

At the end of my 1st year, I was selected for the MCC Combined Universities XI, who played in the second XI championship. This again was a good measure of where I was at as a cricketer, and it gave me a good sense of what was needed in the professional game. Through this I identified what I needed to work on over the winter months, and after a encouraging uni season in 2010, I was given a trial for Kent 2nd XI against Gloucestershire 2nd XI, and I managed to get 125*. This fuelled some trials with Kent, Surrey and Gloucestershire, and made me play at one point 42 days in a row. I was also picked for the Unicorns XI in the CB40 competition where I played two games, one at Old Trafford vs Lancashire and the other at Kidderminster vs Worcestershire, I didn't do anything really but it was a great experience. After playing for a few weeks, I was told that Gloucestershire wanted to offer me a 2 year summer contract deal, so that I could finish my studies at universities, which was very important to me. Unbeknown to me a couple of days after signing and taking some wickets in the 2nd XI I was called up to play for the 1st team in CB40 game vs Middlesex at Cheltenham. I ended up playing, it was an unbelievable experience, I took a catch at deep square leg to produce the first wicket and my heart was racing! My first ball was against Owais Shah and I only bowled two overs, but it was a fantastic win and a unforgettable experience (with Oxford MCCU bowling coach Jon Lewis hitting 20 off the last over to win). I finished off the 2010 season by playing some more CB40's and making my championship debut. But all was back to normal in October when I was back to uni for my final year. I was then offered a 2 year full time contract starting October 2011 that I signed.

Professional cricket all happened quite quickly for me, it was fantastic to break in, but now is the most challenging part, I need to carry on improving and performing. My aspirations are still the same to play international cricket, but I also want to be Gloucestershire's main spinner and key member of the 1st team for years to come.

I owe a lot to the Oxford MCCU, and would like to thank Graham Charlesworth, he has been a great ambassador to my cricket. I enjoyed every second of the MCCU, even the coldest of mornings running round an athletics track and the long days in the field against the counties, but this was mainly down to the people I met on the scheme and the friendships I made. I would recommend the scheme to any aspiring cricketers, and I hope it runs for many years to come."

Joe Sayers

Oxford UCCE Captain 2003 & England U19

"Being involved in the Oxford UCCE for two years has given valuable lessons in not only technical aspects of my game, but more importantly in issues such as time-management and the lifestyle required to become a successful professional cricketer. The most obvious benefit for any player who achieves a place in the squad is the opportunity to compete against 1st class opposition, and to thereby get a taste of the quality of performance at which we must all aim. I would advise any aspiring young cricketer to sample the UCCE scheme, for it provides years of great enjoyment and learning, and serves as the perfect catalyst for future success in the game."

Paul McMahon

Oxford UCCE 2004 & England U19 Captain

"I played in the age group representative teams at my local county club, Nottinghamshire, from when I was 10 until I finished school at the age of 18, when I joined the playing staff. I took a gap year, during which I played a couple of first team games, before starting at Oxford. I had been attracted by the opportunity to play first class cricket and train in a professional environment whilst studying for a degree, and have not been disappointed in any respect. The coaching and support that the UCCE squad receives in all aspects of its preparation compares very favourably with that currently available at county clubs. The exposure to first class cricket in the 3 early season first class matches is an invaluable learning experience, especially so given that the counties field almost full strength teams containing players who are of course looking to cement their places for the start of the County Championship.

I feel that my cricket has developed greatly in my first year as part of the UCCE programme. I returned to play at Nottinghamshire at the end of term and featured in a handful of first team matches; I feel that my season at Oxford UCCE left me better prepared for these than would have been the case had I been playing county second team cricket in the first half of the season.

I would definitely encourage anyone who wishes to play cricket professionally to strongly consider Oxford UCCE, not least for the fact that the squad last year had probably the best team spirit of any I have experienced. University and cricket can certainly be a very enjoyable combination!"

	David Smith
	Ed Young		Harry Packer
			Marc Milligan
	Michael Barnard		Rajiv Sharma
	Richard Coughtrie
	Simon Watkins		Neil Kruger
			Izzy Westbury

Former Players

MCCU SQUAD 2009/10

Raj Sharma (Oxford)
Eddie Abel (Oxford Brookes)
Jak Martin (Captain) (Oxford Brookes)
David Smith (Oxford Brookes)
Duncan Bradshaw (Oxford Brookes)
Josh Davey (Oxford Brookes)
Aaron Jeavons  (Oxford Brookes)
Marc Milligan (Oxford Brookes)
Mike Barnard (Oxford Brookes)
Paul Higham (Oxford)
Nick Buchanan (Oxford)
Harry Packer (Oxford)
Ed Young (Oxford Brookes)
Matt Watson (Oxford Brookes)
Simon Watkins (Oxford Brookes)
Richard Coughtrie (Oxford Brookes)
Chris Swainland (Oxford Brookes)
Jon Lodwick    (Oxford)

Sophie le Marchand (Oxford)

Izzy Westbury  (Oxford)