Best plays steady hand in Warwickshire victory

Homerton's Paul Best, who scored 150 in the MCCU's ten-wicket defeat of Surrey last week, played a sterling hand in Warwickshire's victory over Leicestershire in the CB40 on Sunday. Paul bowled his full quota of eight overs for thirty-four runs - the most economical figures of the match - while picking up the wicket of Max Boyce, stumped by Tim Ambrose. A full scorecard and Cricinfo's report on the match can be found here.

Michael (15 May 2011)

MCCU v Essex (2 April)

The Cambridge season begins on Saturday when the MCCU entertains Essex CCC in a first-class match at Fenner's. Cambridge coach Chris Scott is set to name an XI from the following squad of twelve: Rob Woolley (ARU, capt); Ben Ackland (ARU); Phil Hughes (Downing); Craig Park (ARU); Zafar Ansari (Trinity Hall); Frankie Brown (Jesus); Pete Turnbull (ARU); Paul Best (Homerton); Dean Bell (ARU, wk); Josh Poysden (ARU); JDC Cowan (ARU); Joe McLuskie (ARU). The Essex team is thought to include England's Alastair Cook and James Foster. CUCC Press Officer Michael Taylor will be at Fenner's, providing reports to this website at the lunch and tea intervals and at the close fo play.

Michael (01 April 2011)

Preview: Cambridge MCCU vs Essex

The 2011 season at Fenner's gets underway on Saturday with Cambridge MCCU playing host to Essex CCC. Coach Chris Scott described his squad as 'primed' following a weather-ruined two-day practice game against Leicestershire. He has named an XI with five debutants for the three-day match, including England U19 internationals Zafar Ansari and Paul Best. The Essex team is thought to include England's Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara and James Foster. CUCC Press Officer Michael Taylor will be at Fenner's, providing reports to this website at the lunch and tea intervals and at the close of play. Cambridge MCCU vs Essex, 2nd April, Fenner's, 11:00 Ben Ackland (ARU) Phil Hughes (Downing) Craig Park (ARU) Zafar Ansari (Trinity Hall) Frankie Brown (Jesus) Paul Best (Homerton) Rob Woolley (Captain, ARU) Dean Bell (WK, ARU) Pete Turnbull (ARU) Joe McCluskie (ARU) Josh Poysden (ARU)

Richard (30 March 2011)

Easter Coaching Courses at Fenner's

Fenner's is again playing host to a number of MCC coaching courses coordinated by RSS Academy in the coming months: MCC Easter Cricket Courses at Fenner's Course Code: CC30 Coached by Chris Scott Level 4 and Cambridge MCCU Head Coach Ages: Years 5 and 6, 7 and 8 (Boys and Girls) Dates: February 21st-25th Time: 2-5pm Price: £105 for week or £22.50 per day (including MCC goodie bag!) Course Code: CC31 Ages: Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Boys and Girls) Dates: April 18th-21st Time: 9-11.30pm Price: £70 for week or £22.50 per day (including MCC goodie bag!) Course Code: CC32 Ages: Years 5 and 6, 7 and 8 (Boys and Girls) Dates: April 18th-21st Time: 12-3pm Price: £70 for week or £22.50 per day (including MCC goodie bag!) On each of these courses the children will be taught by Level 1/2/3/4 coaches who are all CRB checked, first aid trained and most significantly understand the importance of safeguarding your children/players on the courses. The coaches will be teaching all the latest skills and games coupled with encouraging the participants to understand the importance of nutrition, fitness and enjoyment in sport. If you wish to place your child or children on a course, please visit rssacademycourses.com and fill in the form on the 'Book a Course' page. Alternatively, please call 077353 50135.

Richard (19 February 2011)

Mike Brearley speaks at the Cambridge Union

A large audience at the Cambridge Union last night were treated to a fascinating talk by former Cambridge and England captain Mike Brearley. Mike gave a highly articulate account on the subject of competition and rivarly in sport, drawing both on his experience as an international cricketer and more recently as a psychoanalyst. An undergraduate at St. John's College, Mike earned four cricket Blues before joining Middlesex CCC. He subsequently captained England in 31 test matches, most notably during the famous Ashes series victory in 1981. He is widely regarded as one of the great leaders in the field of sport.

Richard (19 February 2011)

Draw for Cuppers 2011

The draw for Cuppers 2011 has been made. The group stage will be a round-robin, with each team playing each other by 18th May. The groups are as follows: Group A: Christ's, Clare, St Edmund's, Trinity; Group B: Churchill, Kings's, Peterhouse, Sidney Sussex; Group C: Corpus Christi, Magdalene, Pembroke, St John's; Group D: Emmanuel, Hughes Hall, Trinity Hall, Robinson; Group E: Gonville & Caius, Selwyn, St Catharine's, Wolfson; Group F: Darwin, Jesus, Homerton, Queens'; Group G: Downing, Fitzwilliam, Girton, Robinson 2nd XI. The top two teams from each group, plus the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the last 16. The draw for the knockout stages of the competition will be made after the group stage has been completed. The final will take place ahead of the Varsity Twenty20 at Fenner's on Friday 17th June.

Michael (15 February 2011)

CUCC on the Airwaves

CUCC Press Officer Michael Taylor was a guest this evening on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's drivetime show. Michael discussed England's recent Ashes triumph and its possible impact on grass-roots cricket with presenters Andy Burrows and Andy Abbott. A recording of the interview is available until January 14th from the image below. The interview with Michael begins at 40:25.

Richard (07 January 2011)

ECB announce 2011 first-class fixtures

Essex, Middlesex and Surrey will visit Fenner's next season to play Cambridge MCCU as past of the 2011 first-class fixture list just released by the ECB. The MCCU season gets underway on Saturday 2nd April with a three-day game against Essex, closely followed by the fixture against Middlesex which begins on Saturday 9th April. These matches could well bring England internationals Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, James Foster, Andrew Strauss and Steven Finn to Fenner's looking for some early season form. Surrey are the last first-class team to visit, with their three-day game against Cambridge MCCU commencing on Wednesday 11th May. The complete first-class fixtures list is available from the ECB here.

Richard (16 December 2010)

CUCC featured in Times article

Cambridge University Cricket Club is featured in an article by Ivo Tennant in the Sport section of today's Times newspaper. The report centres on the generosity of former England captain and light Blue Ted Dexter, who on Saturday sold his England cap, blazer and sweater at auction to raise funds for the club. The full article can be found on the Times website here (subscription required), and further information on the Quidnuncs appeal on behalf of CUCC is available on this website.

Richard (10 December 2010)

Moden scoops groundsman award

The outstanding work of John Moden and his team has again been recognised by the ECB with Fenner's this weekend named the top univerisity ground in the country. This is the fifth year in succession that Fenner's has won the award - a remarkable achievement for John and his assistants Robert Brown and Robert Coston. These awards are made on the basis of umpires' reports. At the end of each match, both umpires rate the quality of the pitch, and these rating over the course of the whole season decide the winning groundsman in each category.

Richard (22 November 2010)

CUCC Scorer - First International!

Congratulations to CUCC scorer Helen Hyde who was invited by the MCC to score the final ODI between England and Pakistan at Lord's ths September. Helen was the official scorer for Pakistan, who beat England by 38 runs in a day-night game.

Helen alongside the victorius Blues side at Lords in June.

Anthony (20 November 2010)

Playing Squads Announced for 2010-11

Blues captain Richard Timms has announced the following squads for the coming season: Blues Squad Richard Timms (Captain, Gonville and Caius) Zafar Ansari (Trinity Hall) Anand Ashok (Queen's) Phil Ashton (Queen's) Paul Best (Homerton) Frankie Brown (Jesus) Michael Carson (Trinity Hall) Tom Deasy (Peterhouse) Dan Goodwin (St. John's) Matt Hickey (Trinity Hall) Phil Hughes (Downing) Gus Kennedy (Corpus Christi) James Macadam Thomas Probert (Peterhouse) Patrick Sadler (Churchill) Michael Taylor (Gonville and Caius) Matthew Wright (Hughes Hall) Crusaders Squad Ed Pope (Captain, Jesus) Harry Bardon (Christ's) Anant Bahl (St. John's) Prashant Chand-Bajpai (Girton) Debayan Dasgupta (Queen's) Akshay Deshmukh (Gonville and Caius) Michael Dawes (Jesus) Tom Elton (Corpus Christi) Varun Ghosh (Darwin) Jaisal Gohil (Girton) Sam Grimshaw (Jesus) Jamie Hepburn (Gonville and Caius) Ed Hyde (Robinson) Jasper Joyce (Robinson) Harry Keevil (Robinson) Sid Lawrence (Sidney Sussex) Tom Lee (Jesus) Tom Maguire (Gonville and Caius) Dave Milodowski (Churchill) Andrew Murdoch (Homerton) Alex Platts (Christ's) Kassim Ramji (St. John's) Tim Swinn (Gonville and Caius) Nic Viljoen (Jesus) Simon Williams (Trinity Hall)

Richard (05 November 2010)

New-look website launched

CUCC are most grateful to webmaster Lynden Spencer-Allen for his efforts in upadating our website. The new design includes a revamped front page, much updated content and links to the new CUCC groups on facebook and twitter.

Richard (31 October 2010)

Brathwaite signs for Durham

Congratulations are due to Ruel Brathwaite (Blue 2009) who has signed for Durham CCC. Brathwaite made his Durham debut at the end of last season during a trial period at the club, returing figures of 4-118 against Somerset, and has been rewarded with a two-year contract. Further news on this story are available from cricinfo and bbc sport, while an article published in the student paper Varsity written by current Blue Michael Taylor can be found here.

Brathwaite in action at Fenner's in the 2009 Varsity Match.

Richard (22 October 2010)

Quinquennial Quidnuncs Dinner at Lord's

Over one hundred Quidnuncs gathered in the Long Room at Lord's last week for the quinquennial Quidnunc CC dinner. The black tie dinner at the home of cricket saw the largest gathering of Quidnuncs since the event began. Famous faces from the cricketing world, including Mike Atherton, Derek Pringle, Ed Smith and Liam O'Driscoll (elected 2006 and boasting a recent appearance in the Wisden Cricket Monthly cryptic crossword) joined forces with their former CUCC colleagues. Mike Melluish outshone his contemporaries by being the only member elected in the 1950s to attend. Grace was delivered by the youngest living Quidnunc, Gus Kennedy, before the Treasurer reported on the state of the QCC appeal. The meal was wrapped up by an address from the President where, amongst other things, he revisited the perennial question as to 'whether a biscuit had a soul'. Much thanks must go to Mike Barford for the work put in to make the event happen. Photos from the event can be found here.

Richard (22 October 2010)

MCC Universities Film Released

The MCC have produced a short film promoting the MCC Universities scheme, featuring interviews with MCC Head of Cricket John Stevenson and MCCU coaches Graham Dilley, Graeme Fowler and Clive Radley, aswell as highlights from the 2010 Universities Challenge Final at Lord's. .

Richard (09 October 2010)

Coaching Courses for Children at Fenner's

Fenner's is playing host to a number of MCC coaching courses coordinated by RSS Academy in the coming months: MCC Winter Cricket Courses at Fenner's Course Code: CC28 Ages: Years 1,2 and 3 (Boys and Girls) Dates: Monday November 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 6th Time: 4.30-6pm Location: Fenner's Price: £67.50 Course Code: CC29 Ages: Years 4,5 and 6 (Boys and Girls) Dates: November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 1st, 8th Time: 4.30-6pm Location: Fenner's Price: £67.50 Course Code: CC27 Ages: Years 3,4,5,6 and 7 (Boys and Girls) Dates: October 26th-29th Time: 9-12pm Location: Fenner's Price: £120 On each of these courses the children will be taught by Level 1/2/3/4 coaches who are all CRB checked, first aid trained and most significantly understand the importance of safeguarding your children/players on the courses. The coaches will be teaching all the latest skills and games coupled with encouraging the participants to understand the importance of nutrition, fitness and enjoyment in sport. If you wish to place your child or children on a course, please visit rssacademycourses.com and fill in the form on the 'Book a Course' page. Alternatively, please call 077353 50135.

Richard (29 September 2010)

Brathwaite debuts for Durham

Congratulations are due to Ruel Brathwaite (2009 Blue), who has recently made his County Championship for Durham. Playing against Somerset, Ruel has so far bowled eleven overs for forty runs in a match that will surely decide the outcome of the Championship itself.

Michael (14 September 2010)

Information for new Freshers

CUCC Freshers' nets will take place on the 17th and 24th October, with sessions running between 10-12 and 2-4 on each day. All those interested in playing University Cricket next season should contact either captain Richard Timms (rtt20@cam.ac.uk) or secretary Gus Kennedy (gk288@cam.ac.uk) to arrange a place, giving brief details of your playing history.

Richard (15 August 2010)

Last-gasp victory for the Quidnuncs against the Free Foresters

The Quidnuncs chased down a target of 236 in the last over to defeat the Free Foresters in a close game at City of London Freemen's School. The 'Nuncs began the day in a professional fashion; with the comparatively senior captain/match manager partnership of Timms/Heywood in charge, an early '90s lap, static stretch and 3 point close in fielding drill began the day. Timms lost the toss on a worn and dry deck much to the disgust of the troops. The disgust truned to rage as news filtered through that the FF had packed their side full of spinners (though whether this is more of a reflection of the FF membership base as opposed to cunning strategy could be debated). The woes continued for the Quidnuncs as keeper Heywood rejected an offering in the form of an outside edge from the bowling of Noble. Shortly afterwards however, the FF were in serious trouble at 14-2, with Thomas Probert taking the wickets. Throughout the day, the combination of very attacking fields (at times 3 short covers, 2 slips and 2 catching mid wickets to the left arm spin of Frankie Brown) allowed plenty of scoring opportunites for the FF. Meanwhile, the 'Nuncs kept chipping away and after 56.5 overs, the FF declared on 239-9. Probert was the pick of the seamers with 3-22 and Richard Timms came on at the very end to snatch (or steal, burgal, pilfer etc etc) 2-20. In a throwback to late 2000's Blues' Varsity matches, keeper Heywood was given the opportunity to open the batting in an attempt to protect him from the FF spin battery. Alas, the plan failed as a waft outside of stump off the first ball of the innings was grateful accepted at slip. Whilst it was the worst possible start, it perhaps only accelerated the inevitable by 6 deliveries as the FF were to bring on a slow bolwer from the other end. New 'Nunc Phil Hughes batted promisingly for 18 but the highlight of the pre-tea session surely came from James Greenwood. Promoted to 3, he bludgeoned 4 fours on his way to 22 before succumbing to the 6'7" seamer Buckland. After tea (which incidentally was a very high standard), Timms (31) and Carson (47) put on 74 in a partership containing both nouse and aggression in equal measure. A quick flurry of wickets brought the great Lunar explorer Anand Ashok (60*), last year's FF destroyer to the crease. He along with Archie Reynolds (41* - brother of George, for whom the Nunc's are incredibly grateful for bringing his brother along to help win us the match) put on an unbeaten partnership of 102 to win the match with 5 balls to spare. A most gratifying end to the Nunc's fixture list for 2010, particularly as it followed two crushing defeats at the hands of the Harelquins and CUCC.

Richard (25 July 2010)

England Under-19s head to Fenner's on August 7th

CUCC are delighted to welcome the England Under-19s to Fenner's on Saturday August 7th for the first of five one-day internationals against the touring Sri Lanka Under-19s. Play will start at 10.45. Tickets will be available on the door priced at £5 and there will also be parking space at Fenner's. Further news on the progress of the England Under-19s can be found on the ECB website.

Richard (19 July 2010)

Blues Secretary Ed Pearson Cycling to Casablanca

Blues Secretary Ed Pearson will shortly be embarking on a 2000-mile cycle ride from Cambridge to Casablanca in Morocco, with the aim of raising £5000 for the Sick Children's Trust. Ed, who won a cricket Blue in 2009 and was also the university Real Tennis captain this year, has just graduated from Robinson College with a 2:1 in Geography. He will join five school friends on the challenging six-week expedition which takes in the West coast of France, some arduous climbs in the Pyrenees and then the blazing midsummer heat across Spain and Morocco. The money raised will help support The Sick Children's Trust to run Acorn House at Addenbrooke's hospital. The Sick Children's Trust believe that no child should be separated from their family whilst undergoing treatment, and Acorn House provides accommodation for over 700 families whose children are receiving treatment for serious illnesses completely free of charge each year. Further details about the expedition can be found on the team's website, cambridgetocasablanca.co.uk, and regular updates on the team's progress will be available on their blog. If you would like to make a contribution to the fundraising effort, please visit the Cambridge to Casablanca Just Giving page - the team only need a little more help to reach their £5000 target.

Ed (left) and the team.

Richard (13 July 2010)

Thrilling finish to Blues season in defeat to CCI

The Blues season concluded with a terrific game at Fenner's today, with the Cricket Club of India running out winners by five runs in a tense finish. Chasing 258 to win in 40 overs the Blues lost a clutch of early wickets to the CCI seamers, but managed to maintain a scoring rate upwards of seven per over. A substantial partnership between Lee and Gray meant that Cambridge were at one stage slight favourites, but when Lee was caught on the long-on boundary shortly after completing a fine century the Blues still needed 29 from the last three overs. Despite valiant efforts from tailenders Taylor, Greenwood and Probert this proved too great a task and the home side fell five runs short. Earlier the light Blues has started well in the field. Bowling his outswingers from the Pavilion End, Thomas Probert began proceedings with eight economical overs, and, together with good support from Greenwood and Gupta, CCI could only manage 80-2 from the first 20 overs. This pressure could not be maintained, however, as some strong hitting from the lower order meant the the last 20 overs were plundered for no less than 178. CUCC are delighted that CCI enjoyed their visit to Fenner's, following on from the warm reception that the Blues received in the reverse fixture in Mumbai in January, and we wish the team all the best for the rest of their tour of the UK. Link to Scorecard

Richard (12 July 2010)

4 Day Varsity: Mixed Fortunes for Cambridge on Day 3

Cambridge ended an unpredictable day 3 at the Parks on 227-2 in their second innings and with a good chance of escaping with a draw in the 4-day Varsity Match. Beginning the day on 191-4, a disastrous first session meant that the Cambridge openers were returing to the crease for the follow-on well before lunch. Former Blues captain Owen was trapped infront to the first ball of the day, the first of five wickets to fall to the nagging left-arm spin of Pascoe. Skipper Ansari was unable to take up his usual middle-order spot due to a freak neck injury he picked up in the field on the first day, but he bravely hung around batting at 11 to allow Greenwood to strike a few boundaries in an entertaining last wicket stand. A more positive approach from the visiting bastsmen paid dividends second time around. Timms set the tone taking the seamers for five boundaries in a quick 30, but carelessly he gave his wicket away on the stroke of lunch with a loose slash outside off stump. That was to be the last success Oxford enjoyed until late in the day, however, as Hughes (83*) and Ashok (93) dominated the rest of play with some fine strokeplay, giving the light Blues a fighting chance of preventing an Oxford victory. Cambridge will need to bat the majority of the final day to ensure a draw; Oxford need a further eight wickets on day 4 for victory. Link to Scorecard

Richard (09 July 2010)

4 Day Varsity: Dark Blues Gain Revenge

Oxford reverted back to their form of the early-mid 2000s as they delivered a crushing victory over Cambridge at The Parks, winning by an innings and 28 runs. Cambridge began the final day on 227-2 in their second innings, still requiring 141 runs to make Oxford bat again. Things started in the worst possible fashion with opener Hughes, who had batted so resolutely on day 3, being dismissed in just the second over. The wickets of Hesketh, Owen and Ansari quickly followed, and it was only a battling 48 not out from 'keeper Kennedy batting at 6 that delayed the inevitable defeat until after the lunch interval. Hughes was by far the leading performer for the Blues in the match, making 74 and 87. Aside from a fine second innings 93 from Ashok, however, a lack of sizeable contributions from the other Blues batsmen ultimately meant the Oxford's mammoth first innings score would not be overhauled. Oxford's spin trio of Pascoe, Agarwal and Scott proved the match-winners for the home side, between them claiming 19 of the 20 Cambridge wickets to fall. Link to Scorecard

James (09 July 2010)

4 Day Varsity: Cambridge Fight on Day 2

The Blues began the recovery from a disastrous first day at the Parks with a solid performance on day 2, but still need another 270 in their first innings to avoid the follow-on. Oxford finally declared their innings shortly before lunch on 611-5, Taylor taking four wickets to end with creditable figures. The reply began well with Timms (36) and Hughes (74) putting on a century for the first wicket, but a brace of wickets falling to the leg-spin of Scott (3-48) left the Blues still in some trouble at 191-4. Cambridge need a further 270 runs to secure a draw by avoiding the follow-on. Link to Scorecard

Richard (07 July 2010)

4 Day Varsity: Cambridge Struggle on Day 1

The Blues suffered a long day in the field at the Parks on day 1 of the Varsity Match, with Oxford racking up 475 for the loss of just two wickets. The first mistake from the Oxford openers came with the score on 259, Agarwal playing across the line to be lbw to Taylor. Taylor then struck again to remove the other opener King (189), but not before he had put on 169 with Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 124 at the close. Cambridge will need to bat long on days 2 and 3. Link to Scorecard

Richard (06 July 2010)

Cambridge win one-day Varsity at Lord's

There is life in Varsity cricket yet. Future English captains may not lead the students through the Long Room; the crowds may no longer come in thousands; but, as Cambridge chased 271 to defeat an experienced Oxford side – and to record only a third win at Lord’s since 2000 – the health of the ancient fixture was made clear. Parity was maintained throughout most of the first two hours. Cambridge captain Akbar Ansari had asked Oxford to bat first, and while openers Daniel King and Sam Agarwal fell over straight balls, while Dark Blue captain Raj Sharma chipped to cover, the elder Sharma – Avi – and Cambridge’s bête noire, Neil Kruger, took the score to 132 without further alarm. Still, when Sharma skewed Dan Goodwin to point and when Kruger was caught smartly at the wicket, a target of fewer than 230 was eminently possible. Such was not to be: the returning Cambridge seamers offered width and kind lengths, and some seventy runs haemorrhaged from the batting power play taken by Australian duo Nick Meadows and Daniel Pascoe. Meadows was finally caught for a summarily brutal 66 from 49 balls as Oxford finished on 270, a total which had not been chased successfully since the inauguration of the C.B. Fry Trophy. Choice among the Cambridge bowlers had been Goodwin (2 for 43) and Marc Rosenberg (2 for 28): only the profligacy of their team-mates had loosened a leash they had held tightly; only an electric fielding triumvirate of Ansari, Rosenberg, and Richard Hesketh prevented disintegration. Perhaps becalmed by an extraordinary lunch, the Cambridge batsmen began their reply inauspiciously: Richard Timms fell lbw to Lewis Dingle; Hesketh gloved a brute from John Lodwick, while Anand Ashok – struggling to replicate the form which delivered him the Walter Lawrence Trophy in 2009 – scraped to 34 in some twenty overs before charging and missing. From here, though, captain Ansari and Rosenberg led a compelling fight-back. The spinners Agarwal and Pascoe were manoeuvred deftly, and – where allowed – the forty-yard boundary to the Warner Stand was targeted with impunity. 196 for 3, with both guns firing, and Cambridge looked set. 207 for 5, however, was less promising: Rosenberg had been caught at long-on and Ansari lost – perhaps fatally – to a mix-up with new batsman Frankie Brown. Redemption found Brown, however, by way of a thrilling, unbeaten partnership of 64 with Kennedy in which flamboyant upper-cuts, scything square drives, and smart running wrested back momentum and then secured victory with thirteen balls to spare. Oxford will rue the reprieves they gave to Rosenberg and the generosity of their bowlers – twenty-four wides is too many under any circumstances – but the maturity of Brown and Kennedy would have finished tougher chases than this. There is life in Varsity cricket yet. Link to Scorecard

Richard (04 July 2010)

CUCC demolish old Blues

The 2010 Blues completed their 50 over format preparation against the Quidnuncs at Fenners as they thoroughly demonstrated how dusting off the pads once a year is no substitute for regular practice and matches. The 'Nuncs started admirably however with the new ball pairing of Probert and Jacklin, the latter once again doing a fair impression of a burly Northern seamer, and together had the Blues at 86-4. Once Marc Rosenberg and Frankie Brown got together, the tables turned considerably and the Old Blues were given the run around as the two put on 145. The back up bowling did not always live up to the new ball bowlers high standards and the fielders were ragged at times. Whittington had Rosenberg stumped by Heywood, making this the 9th consequetive season that an unfortunate batsmen has been dismissed in that fashion at Fenners. New wicket keeper Kennedy however soon showed the old stager how late innings batting was done as he and Frankie Brown put on a further 76 to take CUCC up to 307, and helped the latter to a well crafted 106* Only the bowling of Jacklin stood out for the Nuncs, taking 1-33 off his 10. In reply, the Nuncs struggled at all times to keep up with the rate and with the dismissal of Scott MacLennan with the score at 100-5 things looked very tricky indeed. Rory Jenkins saved the collective Nuncs' face by quite literally smashing 72 before being run out as the last wicket to fall. Wickets were shared by all CUCC bowlers but Hopkins was the pick of the seamers with 2-25.

James (03 July 2010)

Skipper Ansari names Varsity Squad for Lord's

CUCC have named the following 12 man squad for the 64th one-day Varsity Match at Lords on Sunday 4th July: Akbar Ansari (c) Anand Ashok Frankie Brown Daniel Goodwin James Greenwood Richard Hesketh Charlie Hopkins Gus Kennedy (wk) Fred Owen Marc Rosenberg Michael Taylor Richard Timms We look forward to welcoming CUCC members and supporters to Lord's.

Richard (03 July 2010)

Blues record dramatic win over MCC

Cambridge recorded an excellent win over the MCC in the penultimate over of the final day at Fenner's. Following some dithering from the MCC bastmen in the first hour, they finally opted to leave the Blues batsmen a little over two sessions in which to chase a target of 352. This looked somewhat generous as openers Timms and Ashok dominated the opening bowlers before lunch. However both soon fell, and with the introduction of spin a draw looked favourite with the Blues going at less than four an over to reach 160-4. Ansari had other ideas, however, blasting his second unbeaten century of the game to see his side home with just minutes to spare. Altogether an excellent work-out for the Blues ahead of the one-day Varsity match at Lord's on Sunday.

Richard (03 July 2010)

Blues v MCC: Day 2

The Blues will need to chase a big score on the third day if they are to beat the MCC in a three day game at Fenner's. Resuming on 77-0 in reponse to the MCC's 350-4 declared, Cambridge were in trouble at 150-5, but a fine partnership between captain Ansari and 'keeper Kennedy ensured that the Blues were able to declare just 50 runs in arrears shortly before tea. Ansari ended with a fine unbeaten century, dominating the opposition spinners throughout the innings. Two early wickets meant the home side were briefly on top, but the middle-order regained the initiative and at the close had moved the score on to 220-5. The MCC will therefore start the final day with a lead of 270.

Richard (01 July 2010)

Run Feast on Day 1 at Fenner's

The MCC enjoyed the first of their three days at Fenner's, piling up 380 for the loss of just 4 wickets before declaring shortly after tea. However the Blues found batting similarly easy, progressing to 70-0 at the close. It appears some creative captaincy will be required to force a result. The performance of the day came from ex-Cambridge MCCU player Eddie Ballard, who amassed a career-best 190 in what was a dominant batting display from the Visitors.

Richard (30 June 2010)

Crusaders Annihilate Authentics in Varsity Match

The Crusaders recorded a massive win in their 3-day Varsity Match, beating the Authentics by an innings and 250 runs with a day to spare at Fenner's. Cambridge resumed their first innings in ideal batting conditions, and proceeded to build an enormous first innings lead through Michael Carson and Gus Kennedy who both made fine centuries. Crusaders captain Reynolds declared midway through the afternoon session with the score approaching 500, leaving the demoralised 'Tics with over four sessions in which to salvage some respectability. They were soon in deep trouble however as skipper Reynolds took three wickets in two overs either side of the tea interval. It was only the positive approach of Michael O'Herlihy that ensured that the Authentics passed 100, with Geoff Wilmot dispatching the middle order to finish with 5-15. The final wicket was fittingly claimed by man-of-the-match Carson, precipitating a dash to the nearest phonebox to cancel Oxford's reservation for the evening at the local Travelodge.

Richard (25 June 2010)

Schoolboys dominate Blues at Fenner's

It was the schoolboys of the Cowdrey XI who taught the Blues a cricketing lesson on Monday, running out convincing winners by five wickets at Fenner’s. Batting first Cambridge failed to capitalise on a positive start and became completely becalmed in the middle overs against the accurate left-arm spin of Leith and Cowdrey. Of the top order only it was only really Ashok (36) who made a significant contribution, with successive batsmen finding ever more elaborate methods of discarding their wickets. It looked as if the Blues might suffer total embarrassment when skipper Ansari departed to leave the score at 107-6, but a dogged vigil from Frankie Brown (41), ably supported by Goodwin and Taylor, edged the target over 200. This effort was soon put into perspective, however, as the opposition top three of Vanderspar, Elliott and Cowdrey set about the Cambridge bowling. Particularly impressive was Captain Elliott, who, after making just 3 off his first 17 deliveries, proceeded to blast the next 19 he received for no less than 48, including three big sixes. Indeed at 195-1 it looked as if the schoolboys would record a comprehensive 9-wicket victory, and it was only the late introduction of the part-time spin of Ansari (2-11) and Timms (2-25) that to some extent saved face. With the one-day Varsity Match at Lord’s less than two weeks away, the Blues have much to work on ahead of the final warm-up game against the Quidnuncs on Sunday. Go to scorecard

Richard (24 June 2010)

Cambridge University Press take in Homeless Blues

CUCC are indebted to the Cambridge University Press who have very generously allowed the club to use one of their apartments for the next two weeks. The fabulous city centre flat will be home to Frankie Brown, Michael Taylor, Daniel Goodwin and skipper Akbar Ansari in the lead up to the Varsity Matches in July. All were unable to remain in college accommodation beyond the end of term and would otherwise have had nowhere to stay in Cambridge. Our thanks go to Hazel Ekin and Chief Executive Stephen Bourne of the CUP for making this happen.

Blues players (l-r) Frankie Brown, Michael Taylor and Dan Goodwin enjoying the new apartment.

Richard (24 June 2010)

Crusaders dominate day 1 against Authentics

This year's Cambridge University Crusaders Varsity XI will take a commanding position on the beginning of day 2 as they dismissed the Oxford University Authentics for just 76 at Fenner's. After the 'Tics won the toss it was all Cambridge for the first two sessions as the Crusers bowlers made the ball swing prodigiously. Thomas Probert was the pick of the seamers, picking up 4 wickets. In reply the Crusaders ended the day at around 200-4, with Ananya Sen top scoring with 53 before being adjudged lbw off the bowling of Chris Stearn, in this his second decade of Varsity Cricket.

James (23 June 2010)

Crusaders complete CUCC double against The Free Foresters

The FF were up against a Crusaders side heading towards the pinnacle of an already successful season who were using this game as their final match before the 3 day Varsity clash. Ratledge stood in for the injured Cleobury and won the toss. Cambridge were inserted on a flattish looking Pembroke College pitch that looked good to chase on. Candidate and undergrad David Mildowski opened up with the wind behind him, and a chilly one it was too. Rumours that he had split the grille of Tom Askew with a bouncer in the winter nets was clearly in the batsmen's minds. They were reticent against his bounce, movement and pace and in 2 spells punctuated by lunch he returned well deserved figures of 20-3-77-4. At the other end Ratledge was equally miserly but decidedly less hostile (10-0-38-0) and gave way to the inswinging bananas of Tom Yeomans (14-1-33-2). Evan Flowers (11-2-58-2) and local hero Ed Dodson (6-1-17-0) also bowled creditably and the declaration at 238-9 off 60 overs represented a tidy FF performance and an eminently gettable target. The star innings from Cambridge came from Pearson (already an FF). His well-timed and unbeaten 100 was well deserved and interspersed with some lovely driving. So the FF anticipated about 45 overs to chase down 238 - just over 5 an over. After the early loss of Flowers, Mawson (54) and Ratledge (66) took charge but after Mawson edged the leg spinner's first ball to slip there was a mini middle order collapse until the late/middle order wagged. Towards the end the never say die attitude of the FF, chasing 7 an over latterly, was best represented by the elegance and occasional beligerance of Dodson (25) and Yeomans (14). The FF fell 13 short ultimately and fought to the death. Ratledge summed up the wicket fairly: after hitting the seam and beating Pearson's outside edge the batsman began to tap down where it had pitched. "There's nothing wrong with the pitch" said the skipper with a wry grin. And he was quickly proved right as Pearson blasted the next ball through extra cover for four!

James (22 June 2010)

Blues bounce back against the FF

The Blues May Week fixtures were completed on Wednesday with a solid victory over the Free Foresters. The Foresters had brought a strong team of ex-Blues and MCC Young Cricketers and so the Cambridge dressing room was delighted to bat first in the sunshine at Fenners. However the prospect of a big total looked unlikely as Ansari and Hesketh followed both openers back to the pavilion with the score a 46-4. To make matters worse Ananya Sen followed soon after to a good catch in the gully, the third victim of returning Quidnunc Ben Jacklin's slow swing bowling. But partnerships between Marc Rosenberg, who smashed a delightful 57, and Gus Kennedy (41), followed by the latter and fellow 1st year Dan Goodwin (43) slowly pushed the score towards 200. Some lusty late order blows from the tailenders - notably Caius' Michael 'red-ink' Taylor - saw the Blues reach a respectable, although below par, score of 243 for 9. In reply the Foresters made a terrible start as tight bowling from Goodwin and Greenwood brought wickets at regular intervals, with Sen snaring two catches behind the wicket off Greenwood. Goodwin's direct-hit run-out to remove the remaining opener proved to be a high point in what was otherwise a disappointing day in the field for the Blues. This left the Foresters' innings in the balance and a strong 4th wicket partnership of 108 between another Quidnunc Robin Jones (81) and Adolphous (31) kept the match alive pushing their total to 137 in risk free fashion. However a solid ten overs from Rosenberg (10-1-52-2) in the middle of the innings restored the pressure on the visitors. With the run rate constantly climbing, the pressure exerted on the visitors began to take its toll and wickets tumbled at regular intervals. A brief injection by Foresters’ captain Garri Jones and Jacklin extended the spectators’ interest but the return of the new ball bowlers wrapped up a comfortable win for the Blues.

James (17 June 2010)

Combined Services win on their return to Fenners

CUCC were delighted to welcome back the Combined Services to Fenners after a 5 year absence. They may not however be so delighted with the result, as the Combined Services completed an easy victory. Set 289 for victory, The Blues looked on course to complete a famous victory with skipper Ansari (46) and Anand Ashok well set with the score on 155-3 with 18 overs remaining. However, The dismissal of the captain precipitated a terrible middle order collapse as the University batsmen struggled against the slower bowling. Only Michael Taylor's bright 31 not out could be singled out as any innings of substance in the second half of the innings, but the fingers will point squarely at the top order who failed to build on excellent starts. The victory added to an excellent day for the Armed Services in Cambridge as the city was able to provide a deserved welcome home to the Royal Anglian Regiment. Nicknamed 'The Vikings', the RAR paraded through the streets of Cambridge City centre after returning from a tour of duty in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The Regiment were cheered on by thousands of admiring members of the public capping off a great day for the services in Cambridge.

James (17 June 2010)

Blues Beaten in Varsity 20/20

Cambridge suffered a disappointing 53-run defeat at The Parks yesterday in the Charles Russell 20/20 Varsity Match. Batting first Oxford made 178-2, Agarwal making a match-winning 88 off just 58 balls. Cambridge lost regular wickets in the chase and eventually fell well short, subsiding to 125 all out.

Richard (05 June 2010)

College Cuppers

Cuppers 2010 has reached the Quarter Final stage with the following matches to take place: Girton vs. Christ's King's vs. Churchill Jesus vs. Clare Homerton vs. Gonville & Caius See the Cuppers Page for more information

Lynden (18 May 2010)

Cambridge welcome CCI to Fenner's

CUCC are delighted to announce that the Cricket Club of India will play a one-day match against the Blues at Fenner's as part of their upcoming tour of England. The 40 over match will take place on 12th July.

Richard (12 May 2010)

Hampstead Match Report

The Blues got their season underway last Saturday with a comprehensive 86-run victory away at Hampstead CC. Cambridge were surprisingly asked to bat on a decent wicket in bright sunshine, and duly responded with a century partnership for the first wicket. Phil Hughes, clearly keen to impress the watching Stephanie, marked his debut with an attractive fifty, dispatching anything short of length to the legside boundary. However a couple of reckless shots from the openers against the off-spinner either side of lunch brought Hampstead back into the game, but useful contributions from Hesketh (31), Kennedy (19) and a typically attractive cameo from Pearson (30) set the platform for a late assault at the bowling. The hard-hitting Frankie Brown seemed like the ideal man for the task, but, following his heroics for the UCCE against the quicks of Surrey CCC, he struggled to adapt to the comparatively pedestrian Hampstead bowing. It was not until the arrival of ex-captain Owen, back on the Blues cricket treadmill for one final year, that the tempo increased. A target of 280 in 51 overs always looked beyond the home side, particularly when Cook produced a nip-backer to leave them one-down early. Hampstead threatened briefly with a fifty partnership for the second wicket, but the introduction of spin on what was now a turning wicket swung the game decisively in the Blues’ favour. Bowling unchanged through the middle overs, Timms and Taylor ended with the combined figures of 28-6-83-8, albeit aided by some woeful shot selection and a couple of generous lbw decisions. Although never in the game it looked as if the home side might yet escape with a draw, but in fading light left-armer Sam Perkins won the game for his new side with a peach of an inswinging yorker, ending some stubborn resistance from the tenth wicket pair. Altogether a promising start for the Blues, who are next in action at the weekend with matches against Teddington CC and Loughborough University.

Richard (23 April 2010)

2010 Fixtures Published

The final draft of the coming season's fixtures (for the MCCU, the Blues, and the Crusaders) has been published on the site. Please note that the fixtures as scheduled could still change, and that any changes will be made known through the website.

Michael (30 March 2010)

CUCC President Roger Knight delivers his 2010 report

Professor David Buckingham has been our President for many years and we have been very well served by him. I realise that I have an enormous task in following him in the role. I should like to start my first President’s Report by thanking him on behalf of all of us. It is a great honour to step into his shoes and take over as President of the various teams that play a large part in cricket at Cambridge University. The two Blues teams, CUCC and CUWCC, the Crusaders and the MCC University team all have good fixture lists and I look forward to watching the teams during the season. It was an opportune and ideal introduction to the men’s squad when the Cambridge University Cricket XI was invited to join the Vice Chancellor on her trip to India to meet the university alumni and play seven matches on a tour of Delhi and Mumbai. Chris Scott accompanied the squad of fourteen as coach and I was delighted to be the manager of the tour party. Few Presidents will have had the opportunity to see the team in action during the off-season and to get to know the personalities on and off the field. It also provided Akbar Ansari, the men’s captain, with the chance to start assessing the strengths of his players. They were a well-coordinated touring party and were excellent ambassadors for the university. In April there will be another chance to meet the players when there will be a dinner, at the suggestion of Ellie Fielding, the women’s captain, for both squads. The social side of cricket is something dear to my heart and is sometimes lost in professional or league circles nowadays. It is how so many cricketers learnt about the game in the past. It would be good to see old Blues at Fenner’s during the summer. Cricketers always perform better with an appreciative audience and all the teams, I am sure, would welcome support. Perhaps it is part of the nostalgia of returning to Cambridge, but I remember a packed Fenner’s, especially when the top county and international players were part of the opposition. There are still matches against counties and, given some good summer weather, there should be entertaining cricket to watch. Your committee has worked hard during the winter, meeting and holding conference calls to discuss potential sponsorship, fixtures and various other topics that are necessary to prepare for the season. Once the season starts it is up to the players to respond and play positive, successful cricket to encourage other members of the university to come to the grounds and enjoy the matches along with the stalwarts, who have watched the teams through good and bad and in all sorts of weather. We are fast approaching the days when the grass will be cut, the nets and the pitches prepared and the season will be upon us. I am sure that we are all looking forward to another summer when John Moden will continue to produce pitches that, last year, saw the Fenner’s square ranked best of all the MCC Universities and in fact the third best in the country after Lord's and Old Trafford. So I shall end my first President’s Report with congratulations to John. Roger Knight 2 March 2010

Michael (28 March 2010)

Senior Treasurer Prof Ken Siddle's notes for 2010

Writing these notes in mid-February, as yet another snowfall carpets the Fenner’s square, the sound of leather on willow seems a long way off, although in fact our first match is less than 6 weeks away. I am pleased to report that Club is anticipating the 2010 season in a very positive frame of mind. We can look back on the 2009 season with a good deal of satisfaction, although we must draw a veil over the one day Varsity match at Lord’s, when a swinging ball triggered a clatter of Cambridge wickets in the first hour from which we never recovered. But while the men were struggling, over on the Nursery Ground our women’s team recorded a stunning 10 wicket victory over their Oxford rivals, with Charlotte Hornsby and Susan Little both passing 50. The men too were soon to make amends and in the (proper?) four day Varsity Match at Fenner’s they gained their revenge over the Dark Blues with an emphatic 10 wicket victory, thanks to centuries from Anand Ashok and skipper Akbar Ansari, and 8 wickets in the match for Ruel Brathwaite. The players’ success was shared by Head Groundsman John Moden, who was named University groundsman of the year by MCC for the fourth successive year. And as a further compliment to John, first class umpires rated Fenner’s the third best track in the country, after Lord’s and Old Trafford. 2010 got off to a fantastic start as 14 players, supported by Roger Knight as manager and Chris Scott as coach, embarked on a seven match tour of India in early January. The tour was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Dr Yusuf Hamied, Chairman and Managing Director of leading Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla, and was timed to coincide with the Vice Chancellor’s visits to Delhi and Mumbai. By all accounts the tour was a great success on and off the field, and even if we did not record many victories we gave a good account of ourselves in unfamiliar conditions (ranging from fog in Delhi to baking heat in Mumbai). Reports and pictures of the tour can be found on the CUCC website. With the valuable experience of the tour behind them, the 2010 squad is taking shape and will certainly not be lacking in experience. Akbar Ansari continues as Blues captain and former captain Fred Owen and ‘senior pro’ Richard Timms return for postgrad courses. Adam Wheater (ARU) will captain the MCCU team. Off the field of play, 2009 marked the end of an era with Professor David Buckingham’s retirement as President of CUCC, an office he filled for almost twenty years with dignity, good humour and unfailing commitment while guiding the Club through challenging times. Our new President, Roger Knight, brings a wealth of experience of playing and administering cricket at the highest level, as well as continuing affection for the Club and ground where he first made his mark. Roger has thrown himself into his new role with great energy and enthusiasm, not least in managing the tour to India and in making several long journeys from his home in Dorset to attend functions in Cambridge. Every bit as important as Roger’s participation has been the growing involvement of former Blue Garri Jones in his capacity as official MCC ‘mentor’ for Cambridge cricket. Supported by Roger and other Quidnuncs, Garri has brought much energy and new ideas for taking the Club forward. He secured sponsorship that helped the Club turn in a modest financial surplus in 2009, turning around the disastrous deficit of 2008. However, the Club’s financial position remains precarious, and fund raising will continue to be a high priority for the committee in 2010, alongside revitalising the fixture programme and encouraging greater use of Fenner’s outside the CUCC/MCCU season. Looking ahead to the 2010 season, the First Class programme kicks off with the visit of Surrey to play our MCCU side over Easter weekend. Later in April Leicestershire will play at Fenner’s and in May we will welcome Sussex. The Blues Twenty/20 will be in The Parks on Friday 4th June and there will be a feast of Twenty/20 cricket at Fenner’s on Friday 11th June, with the Crusaders and Women’s Varsity encounters plus the final of inter-college Cuppers. The men’s and women’s one day Varsity Matches will be at Lord’s on Sunday 4th July, quickly followed by the four day (First Class) Varsity Match in The Parks from Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th July. Quality cricket will continue at Fenner’s into August, as we host MCC Combined Universities fixtures against Middlesex and Kent, either side of an England Under 19s match. We hope these games will be well supported by members, and look forward to seeing many of you at Fenner’s this season. In the meantime, do visit the revamped CUCC website at www.cucc.net for all the latest news, including details of this year’s squads and possible updates to the fixture programme, not to mention a growing archive of Club records and other interesting material. Ken Siddle 20 February 2010

Michael (28 March 2010)

CUCC President Roger Knight's India report

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard, was visiting alumni in India at the beginning of January and it was suggested that an accompanying tour by the Cambridge University Cricket Club would be well received. This was an opportunity not to be missed for fourteen cricketers, a coach and a tour manager. What made it all possible was the very generous sponsorship by Dr Yusuf Hamied, the chairman of CIPLA, his own pharmaceutical company. Dr Hamied had been at Cambridge at the same time as Tony Lewis the former England cricket captain and they were both able to watch some of the cricket and to meet the team, as did the Vice Chancellor’s party. A tour itinerary was hastily put together by Sachin Bajaj, the founder of the Global Cricket School who lives in Mumbai, but who organises many coaching courses in India for county, club and school cricketers. He organised accommodation and fixtures and on Thursday 7th January the team arrived in Delhi, leaving behind the ice and snow in the UK. That same evening the first match, a Twenty20, took place with the High Commission team under floodlights. The floodlights were poor in the dusk and the dark, the seasonal fog made matters worse and seeing anything from the boundaries was almost impossible for fielders and spectators alike. Despite that handicap the CUCC team held on to a number of good catches when the ball was skied. The match was won by seventy runs and several of the team had the chance to bat against some friendly club bowling and bowl without too much pressure. The hospitality back at the High Commission bar was warm and friendly and it seemed to have been a long day by the time the coach arrived back at the Ashok Country Resort at about 11.00pm The following day the team had an early start to travel from the hotel in South West Delhi to St Stephen’s College Ground in North Delhi to play a Delhi and District Cricket Association XI. Yet again there was thick mist and fog and it was cold. There was no chance of starting on time because of the fog but eventually it was agreed to reduce the match to another Twenty20 and start at 12.30pm. Disappointingly CUCC batted poorly, only scored 114 and the match was lost by six wickets, though there were a couple of moments in the DDCA innings when they might have been restricted to fewer runs. The game against Roshanara Cricket Club was less disturbed by fog, although the weather was still cold. CUCC batted first and four batsmen started well without any of them dominating the attack or going on to a big score. The innings lost momentum on a couple of occasions and CUCC scored about thirty runs too few, ending on 205 for 6. After a disastrous start, with numerous wide deliveries, the team was always on the back foot, although the bowlers did manage to claw their way back into the game, until a big left hander put the result out of doubt, striking the ball well, both straight and over wide mid on. The match was lost by six wickets; the second loss to a team which was no better than CUCC and could have been beaten. The reception with the Vice Chancellor afterwards was well organised and the team mingled well. There were speeches and a buffet and the Cambridge alumni were welcoming and interested to meet the present-day students. The trip from Delhi to Mumbai saw a considerable rise in temperature, better grounds and a real opportunity for the team to experience Indian playing conditions. Two matches were played at Bombay Gymkhana Ground, the venue for the first Test Match ever played on Indian soil, one was played at the Brabourne Stadium, the home of the Cricket Club of India and an international match venue, and the other game was played at the Mumbai Cricket Association Recreation Ground, where Sachin Tendulkar was having a short practice net in the background. These were all impressive grounds with excellent facilities and the cricket was always close. It was disappointing that Bombay University chose to treat their fixture as a practice game. They played fourteen players, despite the CUCC’s captain’s insistence, rightly, that this had not been agreed before the start and therefore should not have been allowed by the umpires. This game was also shortened from a two-day match to a one-day game, so it was necessary to arrange another fixture for the second day, which was achieved by playing Nirlon CC at the Bombay Gymkhana Ground. The game with Bombay University saw two large scores and some good striking of the ball. It would have been good to have seen a competitive match because the two squads looked reasonably well matched. Nirlon CC were beaten and after the match there was plenty of time to spend at CCI, where the team swam and went to the gym before being treated to a meal by Sachin Bajaj at the Pool Café. The CCI team had one or two really good players, but the remainder were not outstanding. CUCC batted first and should have scored 15 or so more runs. 217 was always a few too many short of the target. Once again batsmen played themselves in and then failed to go on past fifty, although the CCI bowling was not very penetrative. This inability to make large scores was one of the abiding memories of the tour and always put the bowlers under pressure. The CCI innings was led by a batsman who paced his innings very well and, although CUCC had moments when they were able to put some pressure on the batsmen, the main batsman guided them home by six wickets with one over to spare in a 40-over match. This match was the first attended by Dr Yusuf Hamied, Tony and Joan Lewis. Yusuf and Tony greeted the CUCC players, who responded very well indeed. After the match CUCC beat a pair of CCI snooker players (in a handicap contest) and there was an excellent reception, courtesy of Sachin Bajaj, who presented the Raj Singh Dungapur Scholarship for a CUCC player to come to the Global Cricket School for coaching annually with all costs, except flights, paid. The final match against Bombay Gymkhana, who were the strongest opponents of the tour by some distance, took place at the Gymkhana ground. They had a solid bowling attack of five good bowlers, including a Rajasthan Royals quick bowler who was coming back from changing his action and so did not bowl at full pace. There was also a good opening bowler who swung the ball both ways, a promising new recruit from Kashmir and the nephew of Mike Brearley’s wife, who plays as a contracted overseas player in England. Even the captain, as the sixth bowler, was a wily off-spinner. CUCC managed to reach 174 for 7, but this was another situation where batsmen got in and could not continue. CUCC lost convincingly by 8 wickets when an explosive opening batsman hit several boundaries on a good even-paced pitch After this match was the second reception with the Vice Chancellor. This was hosted by the President of the Cambridge University Alumni and took the form of speeches by the President, the Vice Chancellor, the Tour Manager and Dr Hamied and a Question & Answer session with the gathered alumni. Once again there was the opportunity for the alumni to meet the CUCC touring party over a buffet supper. The tour was a marvellous experience for all the players. It gave them the chance to play in different conditions against players, for the most part, of the same standard. It also provided an opportunity for the captain and coach to see how the cricketers reacted in pressure situations. Off the field they were all excellent ambassadors for the university and a pleasure to be with. On the field, there were many encouraging signs of talent, but throughout the tour the team struggled to score enough runs. The bowling was not strong as a unit, although at times one or other of the bowlers did manage to give the captain an element of control. Generally there was not sufficient consistency and so more games were lost than won. The captain grew in confidence and stature during the tour and there were signs of a growing team spirit, which should be helpful in the summer term’s fixtures. This winter tour was an excellent experience and, thanks to CIPLA’s and Dr Hamied’s generosity, fourteen players, a coach and a tour manager had a most enjoyable ten days in India. Roger Knight President of CUCC and Tour Manager

Michael (15 February 2010)

CUCC coach Chris Scott reports on the India Tour

Standing on Parkers’ Piece in a blizzard, waiting for the delayed National Express coach to Heathrow, was an inauspicious start to the first CUCC overseas tour in more than a decade. Our destination was India: Delhi, and then Mumbai. On the coach and on the flight, my mind started to wander and panic, worrying about whether our tour would fall in to place, whether there would be any problems with transfers, hotels, or the matches we had scheduled. I need not have bothered: we were met promptly at Delhi’s airport, taken to the hotel, and our tour progressed without any logistical, transport or other problems. Delhi was cold: the locals said that even though it was midwinter it was colder than usual. Added to that, the sun seemed to be permanently hidden by a dense mist that stayed around the whole time we were there. Needless to say, we wrapped up from top to bottom in scenes reminiscent of a cold April day at the start of our own season. Despite this we played a T20 match against both Delhi U-19s and the British High Commission, and a 40-overs match versus Roshnara CC. Having toured several times myself, I understand the difficulty teams have in stepping off the plane in a foreign country – in alien conditions – and when there have been only a handful of indoor nets to fall back on. Nevertheless, we competed well against good opposition. A win against the British High Commission was followed by close defeats in the other two games. Ed Pearson, Ananya Sen and Phil Ashton were the standout batters of the Delhi leg of the tour, while Matt Cook, Thomas Probert, Marc Rosenberg and Michael Taylor all enjoyed good spells with the ball. On our only day off in Delhi most of the squad took the opportunity to take the long but worthwhile journey to Agra and the Taj Mahal, a sight I will never forget. We should also thank local boy Ananya Sen for leading us through the winding streets of the city to one of Delhi's hidden treasures, Karim's famous restaurant. From Delhi it was only a short flight to Mumbai, but the change in weather conditions was dramatic: we walked straight into temperatures of more than thirty degrees and immediately reached for the water and sunblock. Our hectic playing schedule continued and we faced four consecutive days of cricket ahead of us. With a virus going round the squad, however, my problem was not so much selection, but finding eleven people fit to play! Our first encounter in Mumbai was a 50-overs game against the city’s university. Unfortunately, this became more of a practice match since our hosts were more concerned at looking at as many players as they could before an upcoming tournament. That we were not told at the toss they would field more than an XI, or indeed until the match was half-gone was very disappointing, but it was the only negative of the tour. We did, however, turn in a high-scoring and creditable performance, with Frankie Brown making the tour’s highest score of 88. Rosenberg and Timms also batted well for their 40 and 32, respectively, while Cook, Timms and Brown got amongst the wickets. Things got back to normal the next day with a T20 game against a strong local club side. CUCC chased down a target of 115 for the loss of 4 wickets, a cameo from Ashton giving our innings impetus. Good contributions came from Owen and Brown, too. We were fortunate enough to play the next game at the Cricket Club of India’s (CCI) impressive Brabourne Stadium. CCI fielded a strong team and, despite reaching a creditable 213 off our 40 overs, our innings was again littered with too many cameos instead of lengthy innings. Anand Ashok produced his best batting of the tour here for 45, Ansari made a quick-fire 38, while Rosenberg (34) Owen (25) and Timms (21) all chipped in. CCI made light work of reaching the total. It was at CCI that the squad was introduced to Dr Hamied, our generous sponsor and alumnus of Christ’s College. He attended the match with his good friend and former England Test captain Tony Lewis, who came up with the original idea of the tour. Both gentlemen watched the proceedings with interest and both were a pleasure to meet and talk to. Our last game, at the lovely Bombay Gymkhana ground in the heart of Mumbai, saw us take on the strongest opposition of the tour, the Bombay Gymkhana CC itself. Although all but two of the squad were available for this match, it could not hide the fact that fatigue had set in. Our total of 173 just was not enough – in spite of an excellent recovery effort from Sen and Rupert Wingate-Saul – and it was knocked off in quick time for only the loss of a couple of wickets. Our batsman all made contributions throughout the tour, but no one – unfortunately – played a big, match-winning innings. Each of our specialists made a score of 30 more than once, yet only Ananya Sen (twice) and Frankie Brown posted half-centuries. This is not, however, taking anything away from the reality that in short matches colourful cameos can be very valuable and that all of the batters had their moments. Our bowling options were limited first by unavailability and then by illness. Nevertheless, Thomas Probert was very consistent throughout; Marc Rosenberg, Matt Cook and Akbar Ansari each had good spells, while James Greenwood got better with each game. In fact, in each but the last game did our bowling look out of place or uncompetitive, and this despite us coming up against some high quality batsman. Our fielding had good and bad days, but Akbar Ansari’s display against Bombay University was without doubt the standout fielding performance of the tour. All in all, I was satisfied with the way the boys played, taking in to account that the tour was in the middle of our off season, in conditions different from those in England, and that we came up against some quality opposition. Perhaps we wasted one or two opportunities to win games, especially with the bat, and perhaps our fielding was not up to scratch, but hopefully everyone will come back better players for the experience and will have learnt more about their game. This was my first visit to India and one that I would like to repeat. As a cricket tour it was everything I imagined it would be: good cricket, chaos, and plenty of chillies. The Bombay Gymkhana ground was a magnificent venue and although Mumbai gave us plenty of sunshine, we shouldn’t forget the hospitality shown by our hosts in Delhi. Again, I would like to extend my eternal thanks to our benefactor Dr Hamied, whilst appreciating the help we received from Clare Birch and the CU Development Office, our tour operators Sachin Bajaj and Umesh, and Mr Tony Lewis. Lastly, I must thank our tour manager, Roger Knight, whose extensive knowledge of India and , of course, cricket – where he has been a much-respected player, captain and administrator – made my life on tour that much easier. Chris Scott, January 2010

Michael (04 February 2010)

Outstanding grounds reports for Fenner's

The ECB recently announced that Fenner's was rated by First Class umpires as the third-best First Class pitch in the country in 2010. Only Test venues Lord's and Old Trafford were awarded higher marks. It is partly on the strength of this recommendation that MCC has asked Fenner's to be the home ground for the Combined MCCU XI in July and August, and that the ECB has asked Fenner's to host an England Under-19 one day international in 2010. Our warmest congratulations go to Fenner's Head Groundsman John Moden, who was also recently awarded the MCC's 'Best University Groundsman' award for the fourth year in succession.

Michael (27 January 2010)

Coach to Lord's Varsity match

A coach is once again being arranged from Cambridge to Lord's for the 2010 Varsity match. Any spectators who wish to travel on the coach should read the letter (click here) and complete the attached form.

Lynden (20 January 2010)

Tour scorecards

Full scores from the Blues's recent Indian tour will be gradually added to the site over the coming days. Apologies for the delays.

Michael (18 January 2010)

Blues suffer in Mumbai

Wilting in the Mumbai heat, the Blues lost three matches to their one victory during the second leg of their Indian tour. A heavy defeat to the Bombay Gymkhana had been preceded by closer affairs against Bombay University and the Cricket Club of India, while a Twenty20 win was recorded over a local club team. Full reports and scores will be published in the near future.

Michael (17 January 2010)

Blues win one, lose two in Delhi

The Blues got their Indian tour off to a winning start last Thursday with a convincing 75-runs victory over the British High Commission's XI. In a total of 175-4, local man Ananya Sen smashed 73 not out from 40 balls, while Ed Pearson provided excellent support with an unbeaten forty. With the ball, Marc Rosenberg took four wickets, Michael Taylor three, and Phil Ashton two as the hosts were restricted to 100-9 from their allotted overs. Next was a shortened, 20-over match against Delhi U-19s who, choosing to field, tied Cambridge down to a well below-par 114, the last wicket falling with two balls unused. Only Marc Rosenberg, with 30, got on top of the home attack. In the field, the Blues put in a valiant effort and the Delhi batsmen had to wait until the last ball of the penultimate over to reach their target. There were two wickets for both Matt Cook and Rosenberg, but with too few runs to play with Cambridge were always going to struggle. The Blues's last match in Delhi was at the prestigious Roshanara CC, where - batting first - Cambridge totalled 205-6 in 40 overs. Ed Pearson top-scored with 45, Phil Ashton made a run-a-ball 43, captain Akbar Ansari contributed 37, and Fred Owen - recently arrived from London - looked in good touch for his unbeaten 33. Alas, 205 was not enough as the Roshanara top three got off to a flier. Tight bowling in the middle overs from Cook and Taylor brought Cambridge back into the match, but with Roshanara needing 71 from 9 overs and with wickets and a power play in hand, their victory was eventually assured. Tomorrow, the Blues - ravaged by illness - take on Bombay University. We also apologise for the lack of daily updates: internet connectivity has been scarce and the days long.

Michael (11 January 2010)

Indian Tour Fixtures Announced

The provisional fixtures for the Blues' forthcoming tour of Delhi and Mumbai have been announced. The Blues will have the honour of playing at three of the most prestigious grounds in India: the Bombay Gymkhana, the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai, and the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, where Anil Kumble took his 'ten in an innings' against Pakistan in 1999. The tour also includes a two-day match against Mumbai University, a one-dayer against Roshnara CC, and a friendly T20 bash against the British High Commission in Delhi. Full details may be found on the 'Fixtures' tab at the top of the page.

Michael (17 December 2009)

CUCC announce India Tour 2010

Thanks to the profound generosity of Dr Yusuf Hamied - an alumnus of Christ's College, and director of world-leading pharmaceutical company, Cipla - CUCC is pleased to announce that it will embark upon a tour of India this coming January. Leaving from Heathrow on January 6th, CUCC - managed by Roger Knight, coached by Chris Scott - will spend five nights in Delhi and six in Mumbai. Fixtures are still being finalised, but there will be at least five days of cricket out of the nine spent in India. The touring party has been confirmed as: Akbar Ansari (Trinity Hall, captain) Ananya Sen (St Edmund's, wk) Anand Ashok (Queens') Fred Owen (Sidney) Richard Timms (Caius) Ed Pearson (Robinson) Marc Rosenberg (Hughes Hall) Michael Taylor (Caius) Phil Ashton (Queens') Matt Cook (Girton) Rupert Wingate-Saul (Sidney) Thomas Probert (Peterhouse) Frankie Brown (Jesus) James Greenwood (Hughes Hall)

Michael (26 November 2009)

Blues and Crusaders Squads Announced for 2009-2010

The following have been selected for the Blues and Crusaders training squads this winter. Blues: Akbar Ansari (*) (Trinity Hall) Anand Ashok (Queens') Ananya Sen (St Edmund's) Charlie Hopkins (Jesus) Daniel Goodwin (St John's) Ed Pearson (Robinson) Frankie Brown (Jesus) Fred Owen (Corpus Christi) Gus Kennedy (Corpus Christi) James Greenwood (Hughes Hall) Marc Rosenberg (Hughes Hall) Matt Cook (Girton) Michael Taylor (Caius) Phil Ashton (Queens') Richard Hesketh (Christ's) Richard Timms (Caius) Rupert Wingate-Saul (Sidney Sussex) Thomas Probert (Peterhouse) Tom Maguire (Caius) Crusaders: Akshay Deshmukh (Caius) Andrew Murdoch (Homerton) Charlie Dewhurst (St John's) Daniyal Ahmad (Darwin) Duncan Allan (Jesus) Dave Milodowski (Churchill) Ed Pope (Jesus) Geoff Wilmot (Fitzwilliam) George Reynolds (Corpus Christi) Jake Allcock-Ward (Homerton) Jamie Hepburn (Caius) Harry Bardon (Christ's) Michael Carson (Trinity Hall) Prashant Chand-Bajpai (Girton) Sam Hunt (Girton) Sid Lawrence (Sidney Sussex) Simon Williams (Trinity Hall) Tom Askew (Hughes Hall) Tom Hisock (Corpus Christi) Congratulations to all those selected and thank you also to all who trialled this year. For those who have not made these initial squads, there will be a second trial held sometime at the end of November. Please contact Mike Taylor (mht25) if you would like to attend.

Edward (20 October 2009)

Cambridge retains the Walter Lawrence Trophy

Congratulations to Anand Ashok, who was recently awarded the 2009 Walter Lawrence Trophy award for his unbeaten 164 for Cambridge MCCU against Oxford MCCU last year. His innings, which included 20 fours, was made in the 2-day MCC Universities Championship at Fenner’s on June 21. This was the highest individual score in an innings against one of the other five University Centres of Cricketing Excellence, or against one of the first-class counties this season. This award holds special significance for Cambridge as it means the Walter Lawrence Trophy will stay with the university for another year: in 2008, current Blues captain Akbar Ansari scored 193 against Oxford University during the Varsity match at The Parks.

Michael (07 October 2009)

UCCE Trials

In addition to CUCC trials, those freshers who have played at least county under-17 or similar representative cricket are invited to try out for the UCCE squad. The UCCE is composed of players from both Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin and competes against five other UCCEs from across England and against three counties in full First-Class fixtures. Trials will be held between 9.00 and 11.00 in Fenner's Indoors School on Sundays 11th and 18th October. To book your please, contact Chris Scott (cws24) as soon as possible.

Michael (23 September 2009)

Freshers trial info

CUCC will be holding trials for its Blues and Crusaders (2nd XI) squads on Saturdays 24th, 31st and 7th November. All trials will be held at Fenner's Indoor School between 10.00 and 12.00. To book your place, please contact Head Coach Chris Scott (cws24), giving brief details of your cricketing history.

Michael (23 September 2009)

Problems with Site now Fixed

Some problems were experience making the CUCC site inaccessible for a number of days. We apologise for this as it was caused by a server variable change we were not aware of happening. Everything should be working again now - if you encounter any errors please let us know.

Lynden (23 September 2009)

Problems with Site

We are currently experiencing an error with the site which is preventing navigation around the site. We are unsure of the reason for this at present but are working on a solution as fast as possible.

Lynden (21 September 2009)

Information for Prospective Players

With A-level and equivalent exam results to be published within the next week or so, Cambridge applicants should soon find out whether or not they will be coming up in October. Those interested in playing cricket for the university or those with queries about university cricket should feel free to contact Michael Taylor (mht25@cam.ac.uk) for information.

Michael (18 August 2009)

4 Day Varsity Match Report,

With all to play for after the disappointing defeat at Lord’s, Cambridge captain Akbar Ansari once again won the toss, but this time with a changeable weather forecast and a green looking Fenner’s track, decided to field. CUCC opening bowlers Ruel Brathwaite and Thomas Probert did not disappoint. The day began well for CUCC when the Oxford opening bat McKerchar was run out by a direct hit from Pearson off the third ball of the game. King went soon after as Probert trapped him lbw to leave the score 1-2. Sharma briefly threatened before Brathwaite got in on the action getting him lbw for 12 to leave the score 15-3. Brathwaite then proceeded to bowl the Oxford captain Ball with a fantastic delivery hitting the top of off stump. Kruger and Hill managed to survive the rest of the session before rain called a premature end to the day with the score on 42-4 off 22 overs. CUCC started Day 2 with the aim to finish off the fine job that had been started. Probert and Brathwaite once again started well, and Probert got the first wicket of the day with a stunning caught and bowled to dismiss the danger man Kruger to leave the score 57-5. Probert ended his spell with the extraordinary bowling figures of 21-13-20-2. As the Oxford innings struggled for momentum, Frankie Brown bowled well to pick up 3 wickets in the lower middle order (3-26), before Brathwaite (3-76) and Ansari (1-19) cleaned up the tail to bowl Oxford out for 152. This could have been even less without the last wicket partnership of 36 between Pascoe and Strachan. Cambridge openers Chris Grammar and Anand Ashok got off to a watchful start with the wicket still doing a lot. But with the score on 16, Grammar edged Sharma and was caught brilliantly by King for 2. Ananya Sen and Ashok then proceeded to add 62 for the second wicket before Sen was caught behind for 16, leaving CUCC 78-2. The rest of the day was seen out by Ashok (93 not out) and captain Ansari (34 not out) and CUCC ended the day on 155-2, a fine day for the home side. On day 3, Ashok fell shortly after making his maiden first class hundred for 112, the score now reading 180-3. Frankie Brown (30) and Ansari then added 85 to take the score to 265-3, and CUCC looking good for a massive lead before a dramatic collapse took the score to 303-9. However Ansari stepped it up at this point and a last wicket partnership of 36 followed, with number 11 Probert providing great support with a very solid 0 not out before Ansari was the last man out for a magnificent 132. After putting Oxford back in CUCC picked up 2 quick wickets before tea before Sharma and Kruger briefly threatened with an impressive partnership of 78. Before the close however, Brathwaite picked up Sharma, his third wicket, and Ashok (1-15) got captain Ball out, and Oxford were 124-4 with Kruger 67* and Pascoe 15*. On day 4, CUCC managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals on what was now a much improved wicket to bowl Oxford out for 263. Ruel Brathwaite (5-54) and Chris Grammar (2-35) were the pick of the bowlers and this left Cambridge 40 to chase, and openers Grammar and Ashok chased this in under 9 overs to seal an emphatic ten-wicket win for the Light Blues. This is the first time in 19 years that Cambridge University have won the first class fixture and hence a brilliant result. Anand Ashok

James (24 July 2009)

Varsity 1 Day Match Report

CUCC vs Oxford University 4th July 2009 at Lord’s Going into the match as holders of the One Day Varsity Trophy, Cambridge University skipper Akbar Ansari won the toss in bright sunshine and decided to bat first. However just as openers Chris Grammar and Philip Ashton walked out to the middle, cloud cover came over and suddenly what looked like a great toss to win turned into an absolute disaster. With the ball swinging around and 4 good catches taken behind the wicket, CUCC were soon reduced to 24-5 in the first half hour. Frankie Brown (23) and Edward Pearson (13) showed some promise in a partnership of 28 that looked like it could have rescued the situation, but this was ended by a combination of poor running and dubious umpiring leading to the latter being given run out. Brown went shortly after, and this was pretty much the final nail for CUCC as the score now read 63-7. Matt Cook and Ananya Sen put on 33 for the eighth wicket but the only real period in the day when CUCC seemed to be ahead of the game was in an entertaining ninth wicket partnership of 26 between Ruel Brathwaite (2 sixes) and Matt Cook (1 six). However this proved to be a short lived burst as Brathwaite was soon bowled for 15 off 12 balls after the batting powerplay was taken. Cook soon followed for a well fought 26 and CUCC were bowled out for 123, which was never really going to be enough. Predictably, the sun came out over lunch and despite a fantastic spell of fast bowling from Brathwaite (10-2-38-3) on what was now a flat wicket, Oxford University, led by Sharma’s 45 (who had earlier taken 2-11 off ten overs in the CUCC innings) comfortably chased to win by six wickets. Despite the poor result, a lot was learnt about the Oxford University batting and bowling which could help CUCC to prepare for the 4-day Varsity game in 2 days time. Anand Ashok

James (24 July 2009)

Blues defeat Quidnuncs

CUCC vs Quidnunc CC 28/06/2009 Cambridge University won their final pre-Varsity one day game to beat the Quidnuncs by 3 runs at Fenners. 4 wickets by quick bowler Ruel Brathwaite was the key to the victory os the old Blues failed to chase down a target of 213. At one stage the ‘Nuncs looked in trouble as openers Chris Grammer and Anand Ashok got off to a cracking start, and with a desperately slow over rate, it was looking like a long day in the field. The introduction of Liam O'Dirscoll stemmed the flow of runs by taking 4 wickets.Chris Grammer top scored for the University with 43 before he was the second to be stumped down the legside off O'Driscoll in as many overs. Tight overs were also provided by Jacklin, Hemingway and Celliers. In reply, Brathwaite struck early as Hemingway was the first of 5 victims for keeper Ananya Sen. O'Driscoll bolstered his bowling efforts with 63, ably supported by Richard Timms (43). However, wickets fell too regularly for the 'Nuncs and left arm spin from Grammer and Frankie Brown made life very difficult. Braithwaite finished the game off in tremendous style in the last over by uprooting the middle stump as he ran out Matt Austin off his own bowling.

James (05 July 2009)

Free Foresters emerge victorious

The Free Foresters chased down a total of 335 to win by 4 wicket with 4 balls to spare in the only May week fixture this season. That the game was played during this period was clear for all spectators to see; for the first time in living memory The Free Foresters arrived earlier than the University and had to accommodate some late arrivals by bowling first. The visitors did remarkably well considering the score once read 170-2 after 20 overs, the introduction of spin applying the much needed brake to the scoring rate. Anand Ashok batted brilliantly for his century and was ably supported by Scott MacLennan and Rupert Wingate-Saul. In reply, the chase was founded around a superb innings of 150* by the Free Forester opening bat, with contrbutions from Matthew Friedlander, Nick Lee and Paul MacMahon.

James (18 June 2009)

Quidnuncs defeat Harlequins at Arundel

A glorious day at Arundel on Sunday saw the Quidnuncs win the toss and decide to bat. With 10 lively Quidnuncs and one guest (the skipper of last year's Oxford MCCU and the combined MCCU side) the Quidnuncs felt confident. They felt less confident at the end of the Harlequins' new ball spell with Jones G & R, Danson and Hodgson back in the shed. Young (guest) and James steadied the ship but with Young and Heywood's departure either side of lunch, the 'Nuncs were rocking on 106-6. James and Newman then batted beautifully to add 100 and to allow the Quidnuncs to declare on 206-6 after 53 overs leaving the Harlequins approximately 45 overs back. Vice President Melluish showed both sides of his character by questioning the Quidnunc captain why 1. the teams were lunching on separate tables and then 2. why the Quidnuncs had made such a generous declaration (last year the 'quins had chased down 280 in a similar time!) The Harlequins came out in aggressive style but the Quidnuncs are used to batsmen trying to play their shots from the word go. Alberts and Kemp used the new ball beautifully, pitching the ball up to drive and every time the Harlequins looked to be getting ahead of the rate another wicket fell. The last ball before tea saw Alberts bowling to a 9-0 offside field in an effort to get another nick to another outswinger. After tea, the dark blues needed 150 off approximately 30 overs with 7 wickets remaining. At that point the decisive bowling changes were made. A combination of slow turning off breaks from Newman, aggressive medium pace from Young and bouncy left arm non turners from Abington stymied the Harlequin charge and left the 'Nuncs comfortable winners by 50 runs and with 10 overs remaining. The interesting fact of the day was that in the Quidnunc innings a Tonbridge schoolmaster dismissed another Tonbridge schoolmaster and in the Harlequin innings a Monkton Coombe pair repeated the feat, so bragging rights at those schools were shared. Overall though, bragging rights returned to the Quidnuncs, until battle resumes next year. Many thanks to 2 quidnunc vice Presidents, who post the conclusionof Ken Green's many years of kind sponsorship, helped top up the player's match fees to pay the requisite fee to Arundel. Next year, we may move the fixture to Fenner's or the Parks to save cost, but somehow, despite our affiliation to those wonderful grounds, the spiritual home of this game feels like it should remain Arundel!

Michael (05 May 2009)

UCCE draws with Yorkshire

The UCCE's first county match of the season petered out into a tame draw on Monday, as the captains shook hands with more than an hour's play remaining. With Saturday washed out, Yorkshire batted first on Sunday, the UCCE doing well to restrict the professionals to 346 for 9 in the day. Rob Woolley - on first-class debut - impressed, taking 3-71 and three catches, while a brace was claimed by both Jivan Lotay's off-spin and Hughes Hall's Marc Rosenberg. Having declared overnight, Yorkshire's attack provided an expectedly stern test for the UCCE's top order on Monday. From the reasonable position of 39 for 1 with half an hour until lunch, English test players Hoggard and McGrath conspired to reduce the UCCE to a very precarious 48 for 5. Indeed, only a superb 72 from Nick Lee (six fours, two sixes) allowed CUCCE to pass into three figures, finally dismissed for 155. Thereafter, there was little prospect of a result and so Yorkshire opted for a net in the middle. And, when Ruel Brathwaite (Queens') cleaned up Jacques Rudolph with the score on 64, time was called. The full scorecard will be added soon, and Sussex visit Fenner's on Wednesday (15th).

Michael (13 April 2009)

Saturday washed out

Persistent drizzle put paid to the UCCE's chances of starting its first-class match against Yorkshire today. Tomorrow's forecast is a bit better, so we look forward to seeing Test cricketers Matthew Hoggard, Anthony McGrath, and Jacques Rudolph in action at Fenner's.

Michael (11 April 2009)

Blues versus Camden: OFF

Saturday's scheduled match between CUCC and Camden CC has been cancelled: the local club has failed to raise an XI.

Michael (10 April 2009)

UCCE warm-up matches summary

The UCCE’s first-class season begins tomorrow against Yorkshire (11:00 start), but the squad already has four matches under its belt, following fine weather throughout the week. On Monday, Essex’s 2nd XI came to Fenner’s and left victorious by 33 runs. In the field, ARU’s Rob Woolley impressed, taking 3 for 45, including the wicket of Test batsman Grant Flower, and the UCCE bowlers did well to restrict Essex to 275, given that the visitors lost only five wickets. In a somewhat bizarre reply, though, the fall of early wickets seemed to preclude any serious pursuit of that total, and only Eddie Ballard’s fine, near-run-a-ball century gave the appearance of a close-run thing. On Tuesday, the UCCE recorded its only win of the week, defeating a Suffolk XI by 60 runs in a timed match at Pembroke. On a green but decent pitch, Nick Lee’s excellent 108 was the rock upon which a total of 239 was built, with useful contributions coming from Fergus Baker (30) and Jivan Lotay (26). Suffolk, at 146 for 3 and needing fewer than six an over, were well in with a shout of chasing that down, but Cambridge spinners Baker and Michael Taylor bowled well in tandem to take seven wickets for 33 runs, securing victory with five overs to spare. Northants 2nd XI were the visitors to Fenner’s on Wednesday, and – in all honesty – the UCCE received a sound thrashing. Batting first, Northants racked up 317 for 5, with as many as 110 coming in the last eight overs. On the plus side, CUCC’s depth in spin bowling was again apparent, this time Akbar Ansari (2-22) and Frankie Brown (eight overs for 38) escaping the carnage. Reduced to 110 for 8, with only Ananya Sen (35) really getting in, the chase was never on. At least a ninth-wicket partnership of 107 – albeit in benign and relaxed conditions – between Stephen Gray and Nick Lee added some kind of respectability to the scorecard. Report on Thursday's match against Cambridgeshire to follow.

Michael (10 April 2009)

Fixture lists updated

New fixtures have been added for the coming season: the MCCU now plays two more pre-season friendlies against Suffolk and Cambridgeshire; the Blues play Camden CC and are likely to entertain Irish Universities in June, while the Crusaders now have a match against the Free Foresters pencilled in for late June.

Michael (05 April 2009)

CUCC fixtures for 2009

Full fixture schedules for Cambridge MCCU, the Blues, and the Crusaders, may now be found under the 'Fixtures' heading of the website.

Michael (10 March 2009)

Senior Treasurer's Report for 2009

We are delighted to publish CUCC Senior Treasurer Ken Siddle's annual report, the text of which follows: 'This year's Annual General Meeting will mark the end of an era. Professor David Buckingham has indicated that he does not wish to stand for re-election as President of the Club, an office he has held with great enthusiasm and commitment for 19 years. He is also of course a very distinguished academic, elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1975, and awarded the CBE for services to science in 1997. David's connection with CUCC began in 1955 when, as a postgraduate student at Corpus, he played for the University (having previously represented the University of Sydney in his native Australia). In a squad captained by Dennis Silk and including Michael Melluish, Bob Barber, Colin Stansfield-Smith and Gammy Goonesena (who topped both the batting and bowling averages) David did not win a Blue, but he played four first class matches and totaled 155 runs with a highest score of 52*. The Cricinfo player archive records that David's first class career in fact ran from 1955-1960, and that in 10 matches he scored 349 runs at an average of 18.4, and bowled 9 overs (off-breaks, we think) without taking any wickets. However, not all those games were for CUCC. After just one season at Fenner's he moved to Oxford, where he became a Fellow of Christ Church, and he was Senior Treasurer of OUCC from 1958-1964. He played occasional first class matches for the Free Foresters, delighting especially in returning to Fenner's in 1957 to play against his old university in a Foresters side captained by F.G. Mann. On that occasion David enjoyed a century opening partnership with Ian Craig, former captain of Australia, and made his highest first class score of 61, no mean feat considering the Cambridge attack included his former team-mates Colin Stansfield-Smith and Gammy Goonesena, now supplemented by Ossie Wheatley and Ted Dexter! Foresters went on to win an exciting game by 15 runs. Overall however 1957 was a good year for Cambridge cricket. Two weeks after losing to the Foresters the Blues beat Lancashire by an innings at Liverpool, a famous match in which G.W. Cook and C.S. Smith enjoyed a University record 9th wicket stand of 200. Later on their tour the Blues had another innings win over Gloucestershire, and at Lord's they beat Oxford by an innings and 186 runs, Goonesena setting another University record with a score of 211. Great days!! By 1969, after a short spell at Bristol University, David was back in Cambridge, this time to stay, as Professor of Chemistry and Fellow of Pembroke College. Jack Davies was quick to get him onto the CUCC committee, and he succeeded Jack as Senior Treasurer in 1977, becoming (we believe) the only person to hold that office for both CUCC and OUCC. In 1990, he succeeded John Butterfield as President of CUCC. His term of office has seen major changes in Cambridge cricket, largely in response to external pressures and certainly beyond the Club's control, reflecting both the development of the professional game and the declining profile of all university sport. However, David has guided the Club through these rough waters with wisdom and good humour, and has overseen many developments that have helped maintain Cambridge's place at the forefront of University cricket as it is played today. We have a thriving University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, a superb indoor school, we still play first class cricket at Fenner's, and our annual encounters with Oxford remain the highlights of our season. Indeed we now have three such encounters, the one-day Varsity Match at Lord's and both 4-day and 20/20 matches at Fenner's or The Parks. In keeping with Club tradition, David has nominated his own successor, but breaking with tradition he has looked to the ranks of old Blues rather than academic colleagues in making that nomination. We are delighted that Roger Knight has accepted David's invitation to stand as his successor, and expect that he will be formally elected at the AGM. Roger has been a good friend to CUCC for many years. In 1998 he captained the MCC against the University in a game celebrating the 150th anniversary of the very first match Fenner's, and in 2004 he officially opened our indoor cricket school. Roger won four Blues while a student at St Catharine's (1967-1970) and subsequently played first class cricket with Surrey, Gloucestershire, Sussex and then Surrey again (where he was captain for seven years). His movements around the county circuit had nothing to do with the transfer markets of today's game, but reflected his parallel career as a schoolmaster. He retired from first class cricket in 1989, having played 367 first class and 310 one-day games. A left-hand bat and right-arm medium bowler, in all cricket he scored 26,473 runs (including 35 centuries), took 666 wickets and held 379 catches. In 1983 he featured in a particularly memorable match of fluctuating fortunes when, as captain of Surrey, he saw his side bowled out for just 14 by Essex at Chelmsford, then scored a hundred in the second innings to help Surrey save the game. When he retired from first class cricket in 1989 he became headmaster of Worksop College. However, cricket was still in his blood, and in 1994 he gave up teaching to become Secretary (and later Chief Executive) of MCC, holding that key post until 2006. During 13 years at Lord's he is credited with transforming facilities, launching MCC's Spirit of Cricket initiative and overseeing the admission of women members (and of course inaugurating the women's Varsity Match on the practice ground!). We trust that Roger will be confirmed as the next President of CUCC at our AGM, and it is intended that David Buckingham will formally hand over the reins of office at the Varsity Match at Lord's on 4th July – an important date for your diaries. Other dates for those diaries are June 10th, when the excitement and razmataz of 20/20 cricket comes to Fenner's as we take on Oxford in the most frenetic form of the game. We are grateful to Charles Russell for their sponsorship of this match and its trophy (which Cambridge currently hold following a narrow victory in last year's inaugural match). Oxford will be back at Fenner's for what is likely to be a more sedate but no less keenly contested 4 day Varsity Match (still a first class fixture) from July 7th -10th. Other first class cricket at Fenner's in 2009 will see visits from Northants (April 11th-13th), Yorkshire (April 15-17) and Essex (June 11-13) to play the Cambridge MCC UCCE. Regular readers of the Club's Notes for Members will be aware that club finances are an ongoing preoccupation. This year it might be best to draw a veil over the deficit of approx £16,000 for the 2008 season. Unfortunately although we have kept expenditure under control, income has fallen away very badly over the last couple of years. We again failed to secure a major club sponsor last year, and the fixture against the Lashings all-star international XI was not the money-spinner it had been in 2007 (although Cambridge did record a memorable victory). Without a substantial and reliable source of additional income the club faces real difficulty very soon. Needless to say the committee is urgently addressing this critical financial situation, with strong support from Quidnuncs, and there is optimism that new sponsorship will be forthcoming in 2009. But I should end on a happier note. With a hint of spring in the air as I am writing these notes, it is easy enough for thoughts to turn to the coming season. Captain of CUCC in 2009 will be Akbar Ansari, who had an outstanding summer with the bat in 2008. As one of only three Blues still in residence, Akbar will be looking to a strong intake of freshers to take up the challenge, and will be heartened to have West Indian fast bowler Ruel Braithwaite to spearhead the opening attack. We wish the team all the very best, and hope to see many members at Fenner's to support them.' Prof Ken Siddle, CUCC Senior Treasurer

Michael (09 March 2009)

Charles Russell Twenty20 Day confirmed

The CUCC committee has confirmed that Wednesday 10 June will see Fenner's host a Twenty20 Day, kindly sponsored by the Charles Russell law firm. The event will consist of two Twenty20 matches, the first being the final of the inter-collegiate Cuppers competition, the second the Blues' Varsity Twenty20 Match against Oxford University. This will be the first time in living memory that any cricketing Varsity match has been played in Cambridge during term time, and will provide a fantastic opportunity for the wider university to watch a very high standard of Blues cricket. Tickets, which will be very reasonably priced, will soon be available to buy from all members of CUCC, and at the gates on the day.

Michael (23 February 2009)

2009 first-class fixtures announced

The ECB has released the first-class fixture schedule for the forthcoming season, with Cambridge MCCU down to play Yorkshire, Sussex, and Essex at Fenner's, as follows: April 11-13, Yorkshire April 15-17, Sussex June 11-13, Essex MCCU captain for the 2009 season is Trinity Hall's Akbar Ansari.

Michael (27 December 2008)

Ex-Blues on the county circuit

The past week has seen one former Blue leave the professional arena, only to be swiftly replaced by another... Former Kent and Middlesex captain Ed Smith announced his retirement from the first-class game on 25th November, having sustained a serious ankle injury during the 2008 season. Smith, who was capped for England on three occasions during the 2003 series against South Africa, scored almost 13,000 first class runs at an average of 41.8. Offered a contract with Lancashire this week, however, was Adrian Shankar, Blues captain in 2003 and 2004. CUCC sends its warmest congratulations to Adrian, who scored 252 runs throughout his Varsity career, at an average of 22.9.

Michael (26 November 2008)

Blues Squad announced for 2008-09

The following have been selected for the Blues' winter training squad: Akbar Ansari (capt) Scott MacLennan (vc) Fergus Baker Frankie Brown Ed Pearson Phil Ashton Michael Taylor Richard Hollamby George Reynolds Chris Grammer Mark Rosenberg Ruel Brathwaite Anand Ashok Rupert Wingate-Saul Tom Marsh Matt Cook Ananya Sen Thomas Probert Tom Scrase James Greenwood There will be a further 'development' squad of around a dozen cricketers who will train separately over the winter, but who will likely be involved with the Crusaders come the summer: they have been contacted separately. If you have not been contacted with reference to either the Blues or the Development squad, but you would still like to be involved in university cricket this season, please contact Michael Taylor (mht25). A system for keeping track of potential squad members' performances in college matches will be established in advance of the 2009 season. Thanks are offered to all those who trialled this year.

Michael (11 November 2008)

Have you been contacted about Freshers' trials?

Would all trialists who signed up at the Freshers' Fair, but who have not yet been contacted about nets, please contact Chris Scott at cws24@cam.ac.uk to re-book their place. A number of e-mail addresses submitted at the Freshers' Fair were illegible and so we have been unable to contact those trialists. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Michael (29 October 2008)

Time running out to book your place at trials!

For those interested in trying out for this year's 1st and 2nd XI squads, please contact Chris Scott (cws24@cam.ac.uk) as soon as possible to book your place at the forthcoming trials. The trials are open to all years, and will run from 11.00 to 1.00 on the first two Saturdays and Sundays of November. Trialists are advised to bring their own kit: CUCC will not be providing any.

Michael (15 October 2008)

Freshers Trials 2008-09

Trials for the Blues and Crusaders (2nd XI) squads for the forthcoming season will be held at the Fenner's Indoor School, on Gresham Road, on the 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th of November. The trials shall run from 11am to 1pm on all four days. For those who missed sign-up at the Freshers' Fair, please contact Chris Scott as soon as possible at cws24@cam.ac.uk to book your place.

Michael (09 October 2008)

Varsity Draw despite thrilling finish

Depsite long periods of slow and unadventurous play by both teams, The University Parks played host to the most exciting Varsity Match for a long time. After setting a target of 368 in 5 and half hours, Oxford would surely do well to get close, particularly after their poor showing in the first inninings, and the increasing inconsistency in bounce in the wicket that was also providing plenty of assistance. After keeping wickets in hand for the last hour, essentially turning the game into a Twenty/20 finish, Oxford took runs at a comfortable rate, whilst Cambridge’s fielding went to shreds in the face of the possibility of losing a game they though only they could win. If Neil Kruger hadn’t been dismissed for 172, Oxford surely would have won, a fine catch by Robin Kemp off the bowling of Ansari essentially ended any hope of Oxford getting home. That Cambridge were in this position can be largely put down to the efforts of Akbar Ansari, posting his first of what will hopefully be many first class hundreds, making 193. Along with Nick Whittington (80) he helped post a record Cambridge 6th wicket partnership in Varsity Matches of 216, and in doing so, ensured Cambridge could take the spoils in the first innings, despite being a miserable 85-5. Ed Morse provided the incisive quality for the home side, eventually finishing with figures of 6-102 off 30 overs. Cambridge then bowled marvellously to dismiss Oxford for 259 especially after being 168-2. Hemingway and Ansari proved the main threats, Ansari claiming 4 wickets in addition to his hundred. It was the seamers however that provided the impetus, Jacklin first removing Kruger with an excellent Yorker, and O’Driscoll claiming the wicket of the entrenched Sadler to start the rot. Wickets then fell regularly to the spinners, Hemingway’s delivery to dismiss Spencer Crawley showing the potential difficulties to come for the side batting last, the batsman only able fend off an absolute brute that turned and bounced from a crack. More runs from Ansari, (80*) plus contributions from all of the top order barring keeper Heywood, gave Cambridge the lead and plenty of time to dismiss Oxford again. Hemigway bowled terrifically with absolutely no luck, several thick edges off both halves of the bat fell out of the reaches of the close-in fielders. Kruger however should take credit for a very good innings indeed, Cambridge will need to ensure he is dismissed early in future fixtures to ensure this year’s good run can be continued. The game also marked the end of the CUCC playing careers of 8 of the players, Heywood, Jacklin and Kemp amassing 14 Blues between them, Heywood having the record for Cambridge cricket Blues with 6, and equalling the record for both Universities. The year was a thoroughly enjoyable one, aided by success against Oxford for the first time in a number of years. Tom Hemingway will captain the side, provided reports from tutors of the guarantee of his return to read an MPhil materialise, and with Akbar Ansari, Scott MacLennan and Fergus Baker returning, Cambridge will look to go one game further than this year’s crop.

James (13 July 2008)

Foresters bat Freely against Blues.

The FF provided a stronger test than has been the case in recent years, winning comfortably by 4 wickets. Garri Jones lead from the front for the historic club, eventually caught behind off Hemingway for 77, third time lucky for keeper Heywood after foregoing two previous half chances off the unfortunate O’Driscoll and Hemingway. Further contributions by the Foresters middle order, including the return former Captain Adrian Shankar, his second visit in a week after he captained LCCC to victory, took the Forester to an easy victory. The problem again was the bowling, Jacklin sending down some absolute filth with the new ball, his eventual 14 overs going for 87. In a league season, he would normally be looking to have conceded such a figure only by August, but a series of floated half volleys and long hops put paid to the notion of tight new ball spell. Only Robin Kemp of the veteran class could claim to have had a reasonable last day for CUCC at Fenners with a good but unfortunate 5 overs. It was a highly successful day however for Akbar Ansari, notching his second Blues century of the year, as well as picking up 2 wickets at the end. He will be looking to bowl a little more in the Varsity Match, particularly in the middle order, his leg spin being a potential threat on a wearing wicket. He, along with runs from Timms (48) and MacLennan (62*) took the total up to 263-3. The FF made the total with plenty of balls to spare, captain Owen perhaps will rue not introducing Ansari to the attack earlier. A string of poor performances with the ball will concern the Light Blues with 2 days to go before the big game, though surely the convincing nature of the two previous victories in June will make Cambridge the favourites.

James (13 July 2008)

Antother 3 day loss for the Light Blues

The Blues continued their unfortunate plight in the longer form of the game as London County Cricket Club chased 467 in the last day to win by 3 wickets. At 309-7, a win for Neil Burns’ side, by this stage of the game at full strength with 14 men, looked as unlikely as it did at the beginning of the day. A superb 8th wicket partnership of 159 by Cornishman Chadwick (127*) and Umar Ghuzali (65*) made the unlikely a reality, as the Cambridge bowlers bowled poorly, and fielded at a level several tiers below. The game was set up beautifully by the batsmen, notably Timms (119) and O’Driscoll (107*) in the first innings, the latter continuing his wonderfully good form with the bat, particularly in the persistent leaving of the slog sweep in the changing room. The bowlers followed up with good work of their own, LCCC dismissed for 168, Hemingway and Jacklin forming the main axis of threat with 6 wicket for 69 off 35 overs between them, sharing 3 apiece. The Knebworth Park Butcher claimed the wicket of Nick Compton, the Middlesex batsman arriving on the second day for a bat, only to be caught plum in front for 0. O’Driscoll came on from the trading floor to claim 1 of his own, purchasing the penultimate wicket, one that provided some unusual resistance. More runs from Cmabridge came in quick time, this time captain Owen proving the main bulk (86) plus contributions from the promoted lower order before declaring overnight. Chasing 467 for victory, Compton made up for the first innings disappointment with a high octane 132, with 100 before lunch. He survived a handful of chances, including two skied catches, a trend that was to continue into the afternoon, the Blues creating somewhere in the region of 14 full chances, and a couple more half chances. Such chances will need to be taken next week if the Light Blues are to complete the ‘treble’ over Oxford this year.

James (13 July 2008)

Blues lose against MCC

In sharp contrast to the thrills of Tuesday, the three day fixture against the MCC proved somewhat of a non-event. Eventually losing by 5 wickets, and preceeded by the usual series of contrived declarations and grenade like bowling, Cambridge's mind were clearly elsewhere as the MCC strolled home by 5 wicket with one and a half hours to spare on the final day. After captain Owen won an important toss, and elected to bat, and thus taking the first step in ensuring that no fielding was required from the home side on day one, wickets fell regularly, and too frequently for everyone's liking. Liam O'Driscoll however batted in a matter totally alien to him, as he finished the first day on 76 of 202 balls. Cambridge finished the day on 234-7, after the MCC rushed in 100 overs in 5 hours - a truly riveting day's cricket. Day two saw the Knebworth Park Butcher set to work, carving, slicing and cleaving his way to an unbeaten 70-odd, allowing Cambridge to declare on 285-9. Cambridge started brightly, if not bizzarely with the ball, opener Jogia being genuinely snaffled down the legside after the first ball of the innings. A handled ball dismissal followed, and after Jacklin had gathered in his various playthings to pick up Worcesterhire contracted Knappett cheaply, Cambridge had the MCC 3 down for not many. A 4th wicket partnership took the MCC score up to just around 100 behind and a generous declaration by MCC skipper Min Patel followed. Timms and Owen batted superbly for a 100 run opening partnership before a Cambridge top order collapse like no other ensued - 5 wickets falling for no more than 15 runs, inclusing some injudicious strokeplay and suspect running. After traditional dressing room panic over declarations, the MCC were set 322 in five and a half hours on the final day. With poor fielding and suspicious umpiring, not to mention some less than tight bowling thrown in, the MCC made the total with ease, with coach Scott to return to the ground to find an empty pavillion and nobody at home.

James (22 June 2008)

Blues win Lord's Varsity

The Blues won the one day Varsity Match last Tuesday, only the second time of doing so since the game was moved to MCC hq. The fixture was again a thrilling one, though in contrast to the last 4 years, runs were much easier to come by as the sun shone and the wicket was flat. Were is not for a very unflattering spell of spin bowling by the Cambridge bowlers in the middle of the Oxford innings, the match could have been considerably less intersting, Oxford having to chase over 8 an over for long periods. The initial pressure was set up by new ball bowlers Jacklin (1-15) and James (1-37), both of whom bowled very tight and disciplined lines and lengths, a sharp contrast to their Oxford couterparts, who once again let themselves down in a similar fashion to that of the Twenty20 match two weeks prior, this time giving away 42 wides. Neil Kruger batted extremely well for his 81, and was ably supported by other members of the middle order, especially debutant keeper Haslam (43). Cambridge were lucky though to keep picking up wickets at crucial times, and in the end The Light Blues won comfortably, bowling Oxford out with 3.2 overs to spare and 47 runs short of Cambridge's 286-8. That Oxford were under such pressure so early was due to a very solid batting display from Cambridge, not least by the two openers Timms (55) and new man Ansari (73). Cambridge were able to keep wickets in hand for the last 10 overs, not least because of the contribution of extras, and whilst wickets fell a little too frequently, 286-8 was always going to be tough to achieve chasing under pressure. Cambridge now most certainly have the upper hand going into the 4 day match in July, with two wins in two against the Dark Blues.

James (22 June 2008)

Blues win Varsity

The blues beat Oxford by 47 runs at Lord's today to win the one day varsity match. More Soon.

Lynden (17 June 2008)

Blues win against Quidnuncs

The Blues followed up their success against the all star Lashings by beating the Quidnuncs convincingly at Fenners. After Andy Danson put the home side under pressure with 2 wickets in his first over, Cambridge were forced to consolidate with the score on 36-3. Consolidate they did, and 30 overs and 152 runs later, Heywood departed for 72 leaving MacLennan at the crease. With wickets in hand and some middle/lower order impetus the score finished on 260-7, MacLennan dissmissed for 91. The Quidnuncs started soundly, last year's captains Ian Massey getting them off to a flier, with Glen Ward taking stock at the other end. A succession of wickets fell, initially to Fergus Baker, returning after injury to the inter gluteal region, and latterly Akbar Ansari, both bowlers picking up 3 wickets. Ward eventually fell for 49, and the game began to fizzle out as the run rate escalated beyond manageable proportions. A sound performance for the side going into Tuesday's Varsity Match at Lord's.

James (15 June 2008)

History made as World XI defeated

History was made yesterday at Fenner's as Cambridge University beat the Lashings World XI by 1 wicket, and did so in Cambridge Blue and black attire, the first time of doing at the University's home. A terrific all round display in the field, led by the bowling of Hemingway (3-19) and Timms (2-4) with Matt Cook claiming three steepling catches restricted the Lashings XI, again containing their ususal array of proven international players, past and present, to a very manageable 187. With Tino Best raoaring in, the Blues got off to a slow start, and with newly promoted Heywood being pinned for 50% of the balls he faced from the Barbados fast bowler not helping, 187 was always going to be a challenging total. With the sacrificial lambs out of the way, Timms, once again in excellent form, and Owen took the score along at a good rate. With Harris and Emburey bowling in tandem, wickets started falling regularly and the run rate climbed. Timms finally departed for 50, and with 40 needed off three overs and one wicket left, it once again appeared that Lashings would leave Cambridge with a victory. Tom Hemingway and Ben Jacklin however had other intentions, and with some brutal hitting from Hemingway (4 sixes & 2 fours) including two convincing pulls shots from the returning Best, and excellent strike rotation from Jacklin, Cambridge won by 1 wicket with 2 balls to spare. Hemingway won the man of the match with a terrific all round display, and who knows, perhaps the aptly nicknamed 'Knebworth Park Butcher' might also find himself on the list of lower order players whose name begins with an 'H' getting the nod to bat up the order.

James (13 June 2008)

Blues lose as MCCC chase down 304

Despite posting an eminently defendable 304, the Blues lost to the Midland Cricket Club Conference by 6 wickets at Fenner's. Richard Timms provided the home side's foundation with a magnificently crafted 119, batting for all but the last 5 overs. With useful contributions from those around him, particularly Nick Whittington, and some strong hitting in the last 10 overs, Cambridge built what should have been a winning total. A combination of loose bowling and an equally sparkling innings from the MCCC opener resulted in a narrow defeat with two balls to spare, MCCC scoring at 11 and over for the last 7.

James (13 June 2008)

Blues win inaugural 20/20 Varsity Match

The Blues won their first Varsity Match since 2005 as they triumphed, eventually rather comfortably with one and a half overs to spare. Oxford won the toss and elected to bowl, no doubt hoping to put early pressure on the visitors with the new, swinging pink ball. Indeed, with Cambridge at 72 5 off 7 overs, including three run outs, the decision by Oli Sadler looked a good one. Sadly for Oxford, a total of 50 extras took the pressure off the visitors, as they worked towards a competitive total of 155, with useful lower runs from Heywood (26) and Hemingway (20). In response and in front of an ever building crowd, Cambridge bowled a much tighter line, but any runs that had hithertoo come from the overtly exercised umpire upper bodies came from boundaries scored by Brendan McKerchar, Oxford moving along nicely at over 10 and over. The game changed suddenly after a Hemingway double wicket maiden, and with able support by fellow spinner Fergus Baker, the Dark Blues started struggling against the lack of pace. Oxford lost wickets regularly, including crucially McKerchar, run out for 50. Therafter, more successful overs of leg spin from Akbar Ansari meant that Oxford were always behind the rate. The Light Blues will of course be looking to build on this success in 10 days time at Lords, were the two adversaries meet in the 50 over match. In the meantime, Cambridge will play host to Midlands CCC and Lashings this coming Wednesday and Thursday.

James (07 June 2008)

Inaugural 20/20 Varsity Match Today

The Blues will take the field in this the first recorded 20 over Varsity Match. The match at The University Parks in Oxford will hope to ride on the back the recent surge in popularity of the shortened format of the game and a large crowd is expected. Coloured kit will also be provided for the players, and pink cricket balls will be used - all the better for you to see us.

James (06 June 2008)

Scorecards Updated

A link between the scoring software used by CUCC scorer Ray Markham and the website database has now been established easing the transition of data onto the website. All the blues matches and their scorecards for the last two years are now up to date. The MCCU matches are also being transferred and scorecards are currently available for this years games to date. This will be back dated for last year soon. The result of this is that the statistics sections of the site are much enriched with data.

Lynden (22 May 2008)

Blues draw in Arundel

The Blues continued on with their good performance against Teddington with a strong showing against the Duke of Norfolk's XI. A large third wicket partnership between Scott MacLennan (90) & Richard Timms (146*) set up a terrific total of 297-4. With The Duke's XI teetering on 157-7, set up by yet another impressive new ball display by James & Kemp, followed by robust spells by Baker & Ansari, a win was for the taking. Three missed chances allowed the 8th wicket to put on over 100 to get the Duke's XI up to within 40 of the total, but a win for the Sussex based side was always the unlikely result.

James (16 May 2008)

Blues vs Cambridgeshire - Cancelled

After heavy and persistent showers during the first half of the week, Fenners does a good impression of New Road, Worcester. The next Blues game is against the Duke of Norfolk's XI on May 15th, at the Castle Ground in Arundel, Sussex. The next home fixture is against Durham Academy on 22nd & 23rd May. In the interim, the UCCE play Durham UCCE and Warwickshire.

James (01 May 2008)

Blues vs Teddington

A reversal of fortunes was the order of the day at Fenners last Saturday, with the Blues beating Middlesex Premier League side Teddington by 6 wickets in revenge for the convincing win dished out by the London side last year. Scott Maclennan hit the winning runs on his way to 22 not, third top score behind Timms (23) and extras (26). Ill discipline was certainly not a feature of the Blues bowling, Robin Kemp and Ben Jacklin ending with 4 wickets apiece, though Jacklin will be concerned that his 9 overs went for over 40 runs. The Blues catching was impeccable, in total contrast to the Teddington batting which showed plenty of signs of early season syndrome. All out for 109 in 31 overs, Teddington gave most of their wickets away, though they were put under plenty of pressure by tight bowling from all the bowlers, despite some loosening of the usually tight belt of Jacklin. An excellent riposte to the previous weeks' defeat, and now an excellent platform to take into this week against Cambridgeshire.

James (28 April 2008)

Blues vs Teddington

The Blues recorded a convincing win vs Teddington CC today at Fenner's winning by 6 wickets after bowling the visitors out for 109. Photos are available in the photos section of the site.

Lynden (26 April 2008)

Blues vs Hampstead

The first outing for the Blues saw a loss by 6 wickets to Middlesex Premier League side Hampstead. Conditions remained cold and damp throughout the day, but whilst it seemed like a good toss to win batting first, Cambridge probably had the worst of the conditions, the bowlers having to contend with a bar of soap and a wet tiled floor by the end of the day, not to mention the near pitch darkness. Debutants Whittington and Marsh acquitted themselves splendidly at the top of the innings, putting on over a hundred for the first wicket. A mini-collapse after luch saw their good work spoiled a little, as Cambridge reached 210 for 6 with ten overs left. A hard-hitting 33 not out from Michael James saw the visitors to 270 in their maximum 64 overs - a very good display for the first outing. Kemp and James opened the bowling and clamied three early wickets, Michael James producing a real ripper to remove the newly contracted Middlesex batsman Levy. A turned down stumping appeal off Hollamby to dismiss Paul Weekes was perhaps a crucial moment in the match - the former Middlesex captain going on to win the game for his side with overs to spare, scoring a very well constructed 101 not out. The Blues bowlers persisted manfully in the difficult circumstances, Michael Taylor especially with his legspin, though concern will be felt for Michael James, shot down by a sniper in the pavilion, his hamstring injury will hopefully heal quickly. An encouraging start for the University on many fronts - they will be looking to improve on this against more Middlsex opposition this Saturday at home to Teddington.

James (21 April 2008)

2008 Fixtures

The 2008 fixtures have now been finalised and are on the fixtures page.

Lynden (18 March 2008)

Members Area - Password Update

We have added a new feature to the members area which allows users to change their passwords from the random one assigned. This should mean it is easier to login.

Lynden (28 January 2008)

Freshers' Trials Dates

Freshers' Trials will be on 3rd, 10th and 17th of November between 11 and 1pm. They will be held at the indoor cricket school at Fenners'. All interested in trialling this year should contact this years captain Fred Owen (fgo20@cam) or Chris Scott, Coach (cws24@cam). Those who sign up will be receiving an email with further information closer to the dates.

Lynden (09 October 2007)

Freshers Trials

The dates for Freshers trials will be posted on the website as soon as they are available. In the meantime any players interested in trialling should contact this years captain Fred Owen (fgo20@cam) with a brief cricketing history. Follow the link below for further information

Lynden (08 October 2007)

Blues victorious at Arundel

The clouds and steady rain on the two hour journey down to Arundel the night before the fixture against the Duke of Norfolk’s XI seemed ominous. However, the Sussex Coast seemed to be the one place in Britain not affected by the week’s torrential rain, and the Blues matched the occasion with glimpses of the positive cricket of which they are capable. The Duke’s XI lunched at 160 for 2, thanks to some indiscipline all round and some steady hitting. Reinvigorated by the famous lunches, the Blues came out fighting. An outstanding session in all departments saw the home side restricted to a further 70 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Robin Kemp and Fergus Baker set the tone with some tight bowling, which earned them three and five wickets respectively, and this was matched by sharp and confident fielding: 243 all out was an eminently gettable total. The loss of four early wickets to some ill-advised shots against the opening bowlers placed the Blues in trouble. Matt Austin and Liam O’Driscoll weathered the storm, however, and with six wickets in hand at tea the game was in the balance. What followed was one of the most impressive partnerships by a Cambridge pair for some time. The early setbacks were soon forgotten as Matt and Liam started to dominate, both reaching well-earned fifties within a few balls of each other. Liam O’Driscoll completed a superb century at more than a run-a-ball, and was happy to watch from the non-striker’s end as wicket-keeper, James Heywood, swinging from the hoop, sent the second last delivery over the infield on the cheap side to seal a very satisfying win for the Blues.

Ian (19 May 2007)

Blues beat Hornsey

After opposition delay reduced the game to a 40 over contest, Cambridge began slowly on a slow and used wicket. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the scoring rate was hampered. Wickets were kept in hand however for the last 8 overs, and the score was moved up to 200 with some expensive figures in the last 4 overs. In reply, Hornsey never really got going after an encouranging start, and limped to 100-7 after 27 overs. With the run rate required topping 10 an over for the last 8 overs, Hornsey did very well to battle back, aided by some complacent University bowling. In the end, 13 were required off the last over. Sadly for them, they were unable to capitalise as they had done earlier, and fell two short. A welcome win for the Blues after a hammering by the County, and a disappointing top order batting display against Hampstead.

James (30 April 2007)

MCCU vs Derbyshire CCC

The second first class match of the season will take place starton on Wednesday 25th April and continue till Friday 27th. Play starts at 11.00am. Entry will be £1 per person and a car parking will be available at £5 per car.

Lynden (24 April 2007)

CUCC on the radio

Chris Scott, Ian Massey and James Heywood did their bit for the club winning the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Monday sport show quiz against Histon FC. You can listen again at www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/cam/aod.shtml?cam/monday_sport#

Lynden (24 April 2007)

Town vs Gown season opener

Cambridge University play their first game at Fenners against Cambridgeshire on Thursday 19th April. 11:00 start

James (18 April 2007)

Pre Season Schedule

Tuesday 17th- Outdoor Net session and Fielding at Fenners- 3-5pm Wednesday 18th- Outdoor Net session and Fielding at Pembroke- 1-4pm

James (17 April 2007)

MCCU vs Northants

The opening first class game of the season sees Cambridge MCCU take on Northants at Fenner's starting this Saturday 14th April at 11am. Tickets are available on the gate and are priced at £1 per ticket. Limited parking is also available at £5 per car. Entry is free for CUCC members.

Lynden (12 April 2007)

Trials for CUCC

Trial sessions for CUCC have now finished. However, if you missed the boat for any reason, and you would like to play university cricket in the summer, please contact Ian Massey (irm31@cam.ac.uk) or Ravi Tiwari (rdt26@cam.ac.uk). Please give a brief history of your playing career, and we will try and arrange something.

Ian (21 February 2007)

Varsity Photos

Varsity Photos from Lord's are now in the photos section.

Lynden (23 October 2006)

Freshers' Nets

This years CUCC Freshers' nets will be be starting on 21st October 12-2pm and will run for 4 weeks. All those interested in playing University Cricket, or for further information, should contact Ian Massey (irm31@cam.ac.uk ) to arrange a place giving brief details of your playing history.

Lynden (28 September 2006)

UCCE Trials

Do you have the ambition to play County Cricket? If so contact Chris Scott, the University Centre of Cricketing Excellence Coach cws24@cam.ac.uk to arrange a place at the UCCE trials on 11th and 18th October(Wednesdays) 3-5pm.

Lynden (28 September 2006)

Varsity 2006

This years Blues Varsity Matches begin this Saturday with the one day match at Lord's Cricket Ground. The match starts at 11.00am with the gates opening an hour earlier. The MCC have kindly extended the free entry policy (www.lords.org) for another year. Come along and cheer the Blues on to retain the one day Varsity trophy. The four day match will take place at The Parks starting on Monday 3rd July.

Lynden (30 June 2006)

Lashings Match

A large crowd was in attendance to see CUCC take on the stars of Lashings. The Lashings' biggest star, Sachin Tnedulkar, did not disappoint with a magnificent 155 and aided by Chris Cairns's 113 in 57 balls took the visitors to 343 off their 40 overs. The CUCC reply was steady but was always going to struggle to keep up with the required rate against the bowling line up of Courtney Walsh, Chris Lewis, Nante Hayward, Vasbert Drakes and Agit Agarkar. Fred Owen high scored with 81 sharing a 100 partnership with Matt Austin scoring a fifty. The event received widespread coverage with reports on radio, television, newspapers and the internet. Read CUCC's Ben Jacklin on the BBC Sports website news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/5105398.stm

Lynden (24 June 2006)

Lashings Match

This Wednesday (21st June) sees CUCC take on Lashings. The star studded Lashings line up will include Sachin Tendulkar in his first game for Lashings. The Lashings Team will also be made up of: Kallicharran, Richardson, Taibu, Cairns, Lewis, Defreitas, Blewett, Drakes, Hayward, Latif and Simmonds

Lynden (18 June 2006)

CUCC vs Lashings Match

This years game vs Lashings has been moved to Wednesday 21st June (originally 15th June). The start time remains 13.00.

Lynden (30 May 2006)

Blues Dominate Duke's XI

Thursday 9th May saw a rejuvenated blues squad put together one of the most convincing performances of the season so far. Following the disappointing performance in the annual 'town vs gown' fixture the blues squad were looking to improve enormously, using the lessons they had learnt from the game against Cambridgeshire to their advantage. The Blues lost the toss and were asked to bat by the Duke of Norfolk's XI on what can only be described as a perfect day for batting. However, the weather conditions did not seem to affect the CUCC bowlers who showed great control and guile resulting in just reward. Robin Kemp was the pick of the bowlers taking wickets at regular intervals. Specatators who may have seen the previous game would not have recognised the blues squad in the field with all players showing great commitment and in some cases tremendous athleticism. Tight bowling and superb fielding left the blues requiring 176 to win with approximately 45 overs to get them in. The 'timed' format of the game left the blues with a potentially tricky 50 minute period of batting before tea, which was ably dealt with by the openers Massey and Bartholomew who showed excellent composure. Following the break the batsmen pushed on and began scoring more quickly. The Duke's XI could not stem the flow of runs as Owen began to open his shoulders, hitting two convincing straight sixes. Ian Massey carried his bat scoring a very competent 70 not out thus guiding the blues to victory. The recent critics of the blues squad may well have changed their opinions following thursday's performance. Excellent attitudes and commitment throughout the players contributed to an assured victory.

Tom (13 May 2006)

Blues Victorious in Curtain Raiser

The 2006 blues squad began its official fixture program for the year with a comfortable victory over Middlesex Premier League side Hampstead CC. Hampstead were rolled over for 119 having won the toss and deciding to bat on what looked to be a very green wicket. All of the bowlers used the conditions to their advantage and were sufficiently rewarded for doing so. Ben Jacklin topping the wickets tally with three to his name. CUCC then continued its domination of the game by knocking off the small total with the loss of only one wicket. An excellent partnership between Ian Massey and James Chervak proved to be the undoing of the middlesex side. All in all a very professional performance from a very promising squad.

Tom (26 April 2006)

2006 Cuppers

Cuppers 2006 is currently being organised. All college captains please contact Ian Bartholomew (idb22 - was wrong before!) with the number of teams to be entered as soon as possible.

Lynden (19 April 2006)

New Website Live

As you will see the new website is up and running. It is not being promoted until the end of April when the site will 'officially' go live. Until then bear with us while we make some adjustments to the site as it goes live. Please use the forum section to let us have any comments and to discuss whatever you feel like.

Lynden (17 April 2006)

New Fixtures

The fixtures for the coming year have been finalised and have been inserted into the fixtures section of the site.

Lynden (22 February 2006)