OUCC - Oxford University Cricket Club

Applying to the Academy

To apply, complete the MCC Universities Application Form on the MCCU scheme's website. This will then be forwarded to Oxford MCCU.

Please note that entry to Oxford University or Oxford Brookes University does not guarantee admission into the MCCU squad and vice versa. Entry to the Academy once at University will depend on a series of trials (held early in the academic year) and one-to-one coaching sessions with our Head Coach and his team of specialist assistants.

Generally the students who gain entry to our squad will have already represented their counties or national teams at age-group level, or be contracted to a county club.

If you have queries of a more general nature, please contact the administrator and we will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible.

A word from the coach...

Brief Background to the scheme in Oxford

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Universities Cricketing Centre of Excellence team is made up of the best cricketing students from Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University. This collaboration is part of a national scheme instigated by the English Cricket Board (ECB) in 1999 to ensure the best young cricketers in the UK are encouraged to go onto to further education by providing them with the best possible opportunities to develop their cricket whilst at university. 6 centres were established at this time and the joint Oxford centre has consistently been placed in the top two, in terms of performance and talent development. The joint bid ensured that a wider range of courses would be on offer to potential students. Three years ago the MCC took over the funding and administration of the scheme from the ECB, although the sports governing body still play an integral role within the scheme, and of course the development of young English and Welsh cricketers.

The MCCU Oxford Universities scheme is fortunate to benefit from the use of facilities from two fantastically equipped institutions. Oxford Brookes University based centrally on Headington Hill (www.brookes.ac.uk) offers a variety of courses which frequently compliments the aspirations of many young cricketers. Brookes combines academic excellence with innovation and choice, making it one of the best universities in the country. With over 160 degree choices and a great reputation for quality teaching it is the perfect choice for an undergraduate degree, as well as boasting a large number of postgraduate accredited courses. For more information about sport at Oxford Brookes please visit http://www.brookes.ac.uk/sport/ or contact Sarah Queralt on squeralt(at)brookes.ac.uk or (01865) 483166.

Oxford University is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research, Oxford attracts students from across the globe, with almost a quarter of the students from overseas. Oxford's teaching and research is consistently in the top rank nationally and internationally, and is at the forefront of medical, scientific and technological achievement. For more information about studying at Oxford University please visit www.ox.ac.uk or if you would like any further information about sport at Oxford University please contact the Sports Federation Administrator

Why choose Oxford for your MCCU?

Oxford’s Aims

The aim is to foster genuine talent and there will be strict criteria for student entry:

Male cricketers with potential to play First Class Cricket.
Ambitous and talented Female cricketers.

It must be stressed that membership of the Oxford MCCU will not be a closed shop. There will be opportunities for cricketers not initially selected to prove themselves worthy of a place and existing members will have to justify their continued place on the scheme. Selection will take the form of trials, interview, track record, fitness and fielding assessments.

Oxford’s Vision

To Develop and Improve cricketers in all aspects (Mental, Physical, Technical, Tactical and Lifestyle) whilst completing their education, and to fit in with the broader ECB vision of raising standards and developing cricketers from the playground to the Test Arena.

Oxford’s Strategy

Our strategy involves having a training programme integrating the following components:

we aim for the players to acquire a high degree of competency with regard to the technical aspects of cricket;
the tactical aspects which revolve around developing and refining individual and team game plans;
gaining a high level of personal fitness through specialized training programmes;
developing mental / psychological skills to assist with concentration, handling anxiety and acquiring mental toughness;
and to be able to fit the above into a busy University lifestyle.
Oxford’s Implementation

For the seven years that we have been in operation, we have been developing and are continually refining a culture, which most efficiently implements our strategy.  Our culture and values can be summarised as follows:

We are a non-profit making organisation who manages all available resources to develop a culture of excellence through practice ethic, commitment, respect for fellow participants and responsibility down the line.  Players are encouraged to take control of their own development and become their own coach - WE PROVIDE THE ROOTS TO GROW, AND THE WINGS TO FLY.

Oxford’s Review

Review and feedback are an integral part of our process. Day to day contact between coach and players during technical training programmes allow a certain amount of feedback to take place due to the one to one nature of the sessions. Individual goals and aims are discussed weekly / monthly and term-by-term. Wider lifestyle issues may also be discussed here.

The Coach

Graham Charlesworth is the full time resident Oxford MCCU & OUCC Coach. He has extensive playing and coaching experience at first class level in South Africa. He represented both Cambridge and Durham Universities at cricket in addition to Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is a fully qualified ECB and UCBSA Level 4 coach committed to making Oxford a high quality cricketing centre.

Our cricketers

Our cricketers who dont get the opportunity to turn pro go on to varied careers and continue to play at a very high level. In the past graduates of the schemes have been picked up by overseas cricket clubs as players and coaches and also by schools across the UK. If you have an opportunities for any of the squad who may be graduating this Summer please send it though to the adminiastrato or coach and we will circulate.