The Oxford University Parks, commonly referred to locally as the University Parks, or just The Parks, is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England. The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, though a small plot of land called Mesopotamia sits between the upper and lower levels of the river. To the north of the parks is Norham Gardens and Lady Margaret Hall, to the west the Parks Road, and the Science Area on South Parks Road to the south. The park is open to the public during the day, and has gardens, large sports fields, and exotic plants. It includes a cricket ground used by Oxford University Cricket Club.
Oxford University Cricket Club (OUCC), which represents the University of Oxford, had held first-class status since 1827 when it made its debut in the inaugural University Match between OUCC and Cambridge University Cricket Club (CUCC). Following the 2021 University Match, OUCC lost its first-class status. It was classified as a List A team in 1973 only. Home fixtures are played at the University Parks slightly northeast of Oxford city centre.
Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset and Oxford University. A graceful right-handed batsman, he was selected to play Test cricket for England twice in 1902. Contemporaries judged Palairet to have one of the most attractive batting styles of the period. His obituary in The Times described him as "the most beautiful batsman of all time". An unwillingness to tour during the English winter limited Palairet's Test appearances; contemporaries believed he deserved more Test caps.
The Philadelphian cricket team was a team that represented Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in first-class cricket between 1878 and 1913. Even with the United States having played the first ever international cricket match against Canada in 1844, the sport began a slow decline in the U.S. This decline was furthered by the rise in popularity of baseball. In Philadelphia, however, the sport remained very popular and from the end of the 19th century until the outbreak of World War I, the city produced a first class team that rivaled many others in the world. The team was composed of players from the four chief cricket clubs in Philadelphia–Germantown, Merion, Belmont, and Philadelphia. Players from smaller clubs, such as Tioga and Moorestown, and local colleges, such as Haverford and Penn, also played for the Philadelphians. Over its 35 years, the team played in 88 first-class cricket matches. Of those, 29 were won, 45 were lost, 13 were drawn and one game was abandoned before completion.
Walter Marcon was an English cleric, noted as a cricketer who played six first-class matches for Oxford University in 1843 and 1844. He had previously established a reputation for extremely fast bowling at Eton College.
New College Ground is a cricket ground in Oxford, England. The ground is owned by New College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The ground operated as a first-class cricket venue from 1906 to 1927, hosting three first-class matches.
The Magdalen Ground was a cricket ground in Oxford, England. The ground was owned by the University of Oxford and used by Magdalen College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Originally forming the northern point of Cowley Marsh, the ground was initially associated with the Magdalen College School, whose students played cricket there. By 1829, the Oxford University Cricket Club had been given a part of the marsh where the College School played cricket. In 1851, it was purchased at auction by the University of Oxford and leased to the University Cricket Club. The ground operated as a first-class cricket venue from 1829 to 1880, hosting 69 first-class matches. The University Cricket Club left the ground following the 1880 season to play at the University Parks from 1881.
Christ Church Ground is a cricket ground in Oxford, England. The ground is owned by Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Owing to the University Parks being on public land where an admission charge could not be levied, the privately owned Christ Church Ground was the preferred venue in Oxford for matches where a gated admission was to be levied on spectators, typically in matches between Oxford University and a touring international team. The ground operated as a first-class cricket venue from 1878 to 1961, hosting 37 first-class matches. After 1961, the University Parks became the preferred venue for all first-class matches in Oxford, but it remained in use in minor counties cricket by Oxfordshire until the start of the 21st century. Today the ground is used by the Christ Church Cricket Club.
Edward James Austin was an English cricketer. Austin was a right-handed batsman who bowled roundarm medium pace, though which arm he bowled with is unknown. He was born at Buckland Ripers, Dorset.
Arthur George Chapman was an English cricketer. Chapman's batting and bowling styles are unknown. He was born at Roehampton, Surrey.
Francis Percy Umfreville Pickering was an English cricketer. Pickering was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm underarm fast. He was born at Shipton, Yorkshire, the son of James Henry Shipton, and was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford.
Malcolm Robert Jardine was an English first-class cricketer who played 46 matches, mainly for Oxford University. Although his first-class record was not impressive, he scored 140 in the University Match of 1892 using an unorthodox batting method. He played a few matches for Middlesex but later went to work in India, in effect ending his English first-class career. He played first-class cricket in India for the Europeans and after a successful legal career, returned to England. His son Douglas went on to play cricket for Oxford, Surrey and England, captaining the latter two and being associated with the use of Bodyline bowling.
William Henry Game was a cricketer for Sherborne School, Oxford University and Surrey. He also played rugby union as an outside back for Oxford University in 1873.
Joseph Grout was an English first-class cricketer. An alumnus of St John's College, Cambridge, Grout played eight first-class matches for the University cricket team during his time there. He played for the University's Second XI in 1837 – scoring six and six, and then for the First XI in an unofficial match scoring 20 and 12 – before graduating to first-class cricket in May 1838 in time to face the Marylebone Cricket Club. He played seven more matches in the summers of 1838 and 1839 for both the Cambridge University team and the Cambridge Town cricket club, facing the MCC and Oxford University teams.
Harrison Dalton was an English cricketer. He was christened at Stowmarket, Suffolk on 20 July 1825.
Edward Samuel Evans Hartopp was an English first-class cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Nottinghamshire and several amateur cricket teams between 1841 and 1857. He was born at Thurnby, Leicestershire and died at Pickenham Hall, near Swaffham, Norfolk.
Simon Matthews Edwin Kempson was an English educationalist and colonial administrator who also played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Gentlemen. He was born at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham and died at Uley, Gloucestershire.
Arthur Stanley Teape was an English first-class cricketer and barrister.
Richard Hurst was an English first-class cricketer.
John Hurst was an English first-class cricketer.
