Oxford University Cricket Club

Last updated

Oxford University
Cricket at University Parks, Oxford.jpg
The club grounds in 2006
Personnel
CaptainOwen Marshall
Coach Graham Charlesworth
Team information
Founded1827
Home ground University Parks
History
First-class debut Cambridge University
in 1827
at  Lord's
Official website www.cricketintheparks.org.uk

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. [1] Home fixtures are played at the University Parks slightly northeast of Oxford city centre.

Contents

History

A cricket match at The Parks, MCC Universities Championship 2006 Cricket at University Parks, Oxford 2.jpg
A cricket match at The Parks, MCC Universities Championship 2006

The earliest reference to cricket at Oxford is in 1673. OUCC made its known debut in the inaugural University Match between Oxford and Cambridge played in 1827. In terms of extant clubs being involved, this is the oldest major fixture in the world: i.e., although some inter-county fixtures are much older, none of the current county clubs were founded before 1839 (the oldest known current fixture is Kent versus Surrey).[ citation needed ]

The Magdalen Ground was used for the University Cricket Club's first match in 1829, and remain in regular use until 1880. [2] Bullingdon Green was used for two matches in 1843. [3] [4] The University Parks became the home ground of OUCC in 1881, [5] [6] when the Master of Pembroke, Evan Evans obtaining a lease on 10 acres of land there. [7] [8] The pavilion was designed by Thomas G. Jackson, architect of many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Oxford buildings, including the university's Examination Schools. [7] The building has three gables, the central one containing the clock, and is topped by a cupola and weather-vane. [5] The pavilion contains a Long Room. [7] The two ends of the pitch are the Pavilion End and the Norham Gardens End. [9]

The University Match became the club's sole first-class fixture each season from 2001 until the end of first-class status for university sides in 2020. Apart from this annual game, played in late June or early July, the OUCC first team operates as part of the Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE), which includes Oxford Brookes University. The UCCE was rebranded as Oxford MCC University (MCCU) prior to the 2010 season. The University Match is the only one in which a true OUCC team takes part: i.e., composed entirely of current Oxford students.[ citation needed ]

The Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (OUCCE) team played 26 first-class matches (not including one abandoned) from 2001 to 2009. [10] As Oxford Marylebone Cricket Club University, the team has played sixteen first-class matches from 2010 to 2016. [11]

Grounds

The five grounds that Oxford University have used for home first-class and List A matches since 1829 are listed below, with statistics complete through to the end of the 2014 season. Only the first-class and List A matches played at the ground by Oxford University are recorded in the table.

NameLocationFirstLastMatchesFirstLastMatchesRefs
First-class List A
Magdalen Ground Oxford 5 June 1829
v Cambridge University 		20 May 1912
v South Africans 		70——0 [12] [13]
Bullingdon Green Oxford 24 May 1843
v Marylebone Cricket Club 		8 June 1843
v Cambridge University 		2——0 [14] [15]
Christ Church Ground
Christ Church Oxford Cricket Ground 2.jpg
Oxford 3 June 1878
v Gentlemen of England 		31 May 1961
v Australians 		37——0 [16] [17]
University Parks
Cricket pavilion in University Parks, Oxford.jpg
Oxford 16 May 1881
v Marylebone Cricket Club 		2 July 2018
v Cambridge University 		73828 April 1973
v Leicestershire 		7 May 1973
v Warwickshire 		2 [18] [19] [20]
New College Ground
Sports ground off St Cross Road.jpg
Oxford 31 May 1906
v Yorkshire 		30 May 1907
v South Africans 		2——0 [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marylebone Cricket Club</span> English cricket club and former governing body

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club, formerly the governing body of cricket, retains considerable global influence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Parks</span> Parkland area northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge University Cricket Club</span> English university cricket team

Cambridge University Cricket Club, established in 1820, is the representative cricket club for students of the University of Cambridge. Depending on the circumstances of each individual match, the club has always been recognised as holding first-class status. The university played List A cricket in 1972 and 1974 only. It has not played top-level Twenty20 cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeds/Bradford MCC University</span> Cricket team

Leeds/Bradford MCC University, formerly Leeds/Bradford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, commonly abbreviated to Leeds/Bradford MCCU, is one of six University Centres of Cricketing Excellence supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Ground, Taunton</span> Cricket ground in Somerset, England

The County Ground, known for sponsorship reasons as Cooper Associates County Ground, is a cricket ground in Taunton, Somerset. It is the home of Somerset County Cricket Club, who have played there since 1882. The ground, which is located between Priory Bridge Road and St James Street, has a capacity of 8,500. The ground was originally built as part of a sports centre by Taunton Athletic Club in 1881, and became the home of the previously nomadic Somerset County Cricket Club soon after. Having leased the ground for ten years, the club bought the ground in 1896, under the guidance of club secretary Henry Murray-Anderdon. The ground ends are the River End to the north and the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence</span> UK cricket team

Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, known as Durham MCC University from 2010 to 2020, is a cricket coaching centre based at Durham University in Durham, County Durham, England, and the name under which the Durham University Cricket Club (DUCC) first team plays.

The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricket in England</span> Overview of the sport of cricket in England

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in England, and has been played since the 16th century. Marylebone Cricket Club, based at Lord's, developed the modern rules of play and conduct. The sport is administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board and represented at an international level by the England men's team and England women's team. At a domestic level, teams are organised by county, competing in tournaments such as the County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup, T20 Blast and the Women's Twenty20 Cup. Recent developments include the introduction of a regional structure for women's cricket and the establishment of The Hundred for both men's and women's cricket. Recreational matches are organised on a regional basis, with the top level being the ECB Premier Leagues.

Cricket, and hence English amateur cricket, probably began in England during the medieval period but the earliest known reference concerns the game being played c.1550 by children on a plot of land at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Surrey. It is generally believed that cricket was originally a children's game as it is not until the beginning of the 17th century that reports can be found of adult participation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New College Ground</span> English cricket ground

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church Ground</span> Cricket ground in Oxford, England

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. Privately owned, it 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 was 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 and one-day cricket by Oxfordshire until the start of the 21st century and hosted a Women's One Day International during the 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullingdon Green</span> Former cricket ground in Oxford, England

Bullingdon Green was a cricket ground south of Oxford, England. It was associated with the Bullingdon Club and was an important site in the early history of cricket in Oxford. The ground operated as a first-class cricket venue in 1843, hosting two first-class matches. It was subsequently built on in 1876 with the Cowley Barracks.

Harold Arthur Arkwright was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Oxford University between 1893 and 1895. He also made a few appearances for Essex during his university years, and later played two minor counties matches for Cambridgeshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Polo Club</span> Polo Club of the Oxford University

The Oxford University Polo Club is the Discretionary Full Blue sports club for competitive polo at Oxford University. Founded in 1874, it is one of the four oldest continuing polo clubs worldwide. Its annual Varsity Match against Cambridge University Polo Club, established in 1878, is the second oldest continuing polo fixture in the Western world. It is played at Guards Polo Club, England, usually at the beginning of June.

Oliver James Sadler is an English former first-class cricketer.

Stephen John Hawinkels is a South African banker and former first-class cricketer.

Alexander David Simcox is an English former first-class cricketer.

References

  1. ↑ "List A events played by Cambridge University". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "First-Class Matches Played on Magdalen Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "First-Class Matches Played on Bullingdon Green, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Davies, Mark (5 August 2010). "An early history of cricket in Oxford". BBC. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 Plumptre, George (1988). "Oxford: The Parks". In Plumptre, George; Swanton, E.W. (eds.). Homes of Cricket: The First-Class Grounds of England and Wales. Queen Anne Press. pp. 213–216. ISBN   0-356-15671-0.
  6. ↑ Ranjitsinhji, K.S. (1897). "Removal of the Club from the Magdalen Ground to the University Parks, and University Matches from 1881 to 1896". Jubilee Book of Cricket (second ed.). p. 350.
  7. 1 2 3 Powell, William (1989). "Oxford University". The Wisden Guide to Cricket Grounds. Stanley Paul. p. 398. ISBN   0-09-173830-X.
  8. ↑ "The Parks". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "The University Parks, Oxford". Cricket Archive.
  10. ↑ "First Class Matches Played by Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "First Class Matches Played by Oxford Marylebone Cricket Club University". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Magdalen Ground, Oxford" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "First-Class Matches played on Magdalen Ground, Oxford (70)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Bullingdon Green, Oxford" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "First-Class Matches played on Bullingdon Green, Oxford (2)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Christ Church Ground, Oxford" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "First-Class Matches played on Christ Church Ground, Oxford (37)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "The University Parks, Oxford" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "First-Class Matches played on The University Parks, Oxford (788)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "List A Matches played on The University Parks, Oxford (24)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "New College Ground, Oxford" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "First-Class Matches played on New College Ground, Oxford (2)" . CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.