The University Match (cricket)

Last updated

The University Match
First meeting4 June 1827
Latest meeting4 July 2023
Statistics
Meetings total179 (incl. 1 abandoned and 2 non f-c)
All-time series62–58–58, Cambridge

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.

Contents

Until 2001, when first-class cricket was reorganised, the University Match was a three-day first-class fixture, played at Lord's. Subsequently, it was replaced with a one-day University Match played at Lord's and a four-day first-class fixture played alternately at Fenner's and The Parks. The 2021 one-day match was the last to be played at Lord's and from 2022, the one-day University Match has been played at Arundel Castle. One-off twenty over matches for men and women were arranged at Lords in 2022. In February 2022, the MCC announced that from 2023, the twenty over fixtures would no longer be held at Lord's. [1] Following opposition from a section of its membership, the club decided that the twenty over matches would continue to be held at Lord's in 2023 to allow time for further consultation. [2] In March, 2023 it was announced that the twenty over fixture would continue to be played at Lord's until at least 2027, following which there would be a review and a possible vote in 2028 on whether the matches should remain at Lord's. [3]

These twenty over matches are not to be confused with the 'University Matches' for which colours are awarded. Cambridge award a blue for both the one-day and four-day games and Oxford award a blue for the four-day game only. Blues are not awarded for the twenty over match. At the same time, Oxford players have also played in the Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (Oxford UCCE, also including Oxford Brookes University, now superseded by the Oxford MCCU), and Cambridge players in the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (Cambridge UCCE, including Anglia Ruskin University and now the Cambridge MCCU). However, only those at Oxford and Cambridge Universities are eligible to play in the University Match(es). [4]

The four-day match lost its first-class status after the 2020 fixture. [5]

History

The match was first played in 1827, at Lord's, at the instigation of Charles Wordsworth who was also responsible for founding the Boat Race in 1829. The next two University matches were in 1829 and 1836. From 1838 it has been played annually, except for the war years of 1915–1918 and 1940–45. (From 1941 to 1945, a one-day fixture was played at Lord's, but these matches are not counted in the official records.) Lord's was to become its permanent venue from 1851 to 2000, but five of the early matches were played in the vicinity of Oxford.

It was traditionally an annual three-day first-class fixture. [6] From the 1830s until 1939, it was among the most important fixtures of the season, attracting large crowds and widespread press coverage. It was still a major social, as well as sporting, event as recently as just after World War II . According to The Cricketer (1954), the 1954 match attracted over 13,000 paying spectators as well as MCC members.

In terms of the clubs concerned, the University Match was the oldest first-class fixture still being played in 2020, its final year with first-class status. Matches between county teams prior to formation of the current county clubs have a longer history, with the oldest known county fixture between Kent and Surrey, which dates back to 1709 at least.

Despite never matriculating, Tom Wills was allowed to play for Cambridge in the 1856 match. He went on to found Australian rules football and coach the first Australian cricket team to tour England.

Some of the most dramatic matches in the long history of the fixture occurred in the 1870s. The first of these was 'Cobden's Match' in 1870. F. C. Cobden took the last three Oxford wickets in consecutive balls to give Cambridge victory by 2 runs. The following year S. E. Butler took 10–38 in the Cambridge first innings (the only instance of a bowler taking all ten), followed by five more wickets in the second innings. In 1873 Oxford won by only three wickets. The 1875 match was almost as close an affair as that in 1870. Needing 175 to win, Cambridge were 161–7 at one point, but were all out for 168 to lose by six runs.

Another notable match was in 1923, which became known as the "Thunderstorm match". Oxford had run up a good score, and a torrential storm for much of the night rendered the pitch almost unplayable, so that Cambridge were quickly dismissed in two innings.

William Yardley of Cambridge has the distinction of scoring the first two hundreds made in the series: 100 in 1870 in Cobden's Match and 130 in 1872.

Robin Marlar's bowling figures for Cambridge are worth noting:

Players who became (or in a few instances were already) famous to have appeared in the match include: Alfred Lyttelton (Cantab. 1876–9), Allan Steel (Cantab. 1878–81), Stanley Jackson (Cantab. 1890–3), C. B. Fry (Ox. 1892–5), K. S. Ranjitsinhji (Cantab. 1893), Pelham Warner (Ox. 1895–6), Gilbert Jessop (Cantab. 1896–9), R. E. Foster (Ox. 1897–1900), Bernard Bosanquet (Ox. 1898–1900), Percy Chapman (Cantab. 1920–2), Douglas Jardine (Ox. 1920–1, 1923), Gubby Allen (Cantab. 1922–3), K. S. Duleepsinhji (Cantab. 1925–8), Nawab of Pataudi snr (Ox. 1929–31), Ken Farnes (Cantab. 1931–3), Martin Donnelly (Ox. 1946–7), Abdul Kardar (Ox. 1947–9), Peter May (Cantab. 1950–2), David Sheppard (Cantab. 1950–2), Colin Cowdrey (Ox. 1952–4), M. J. K. Smith (Ox. 1954–6), Ted Dexter (Cantab. 1956–8), Nawab of Pataudi jnr (Ox. 1960–1, 1963), Tony Lewis Cantab 1960–62), Mike Brearley (Cantab. 1961–4), Majid Khan (Cantab. 1971–3), Imran Khan (Ox. 1973–5) and Mike Atherton (Cantab. 1987, 1989). It can be seen that the majority were batsmen rather than bowlers and that the 1890s and 1950s to early 1960s were particularly fertile periods. At the time of writing, the most recent Oxbridge international cricketers are Ed Smith (Cantab. 1996–7) in Tests, and James Dalrymple (Ox. 2001–3) in limited-overs internationals.

From 2001 the match has been replaced by two fixtures each year: a one-day match played at Lord's and a four-day fixture (first-class up to and including 2020) played in alternate years at Fenner's in Cambridge and The Parks in Oxford. Blues are awarded to those appearing in either match for Cambridge players but only to Oxford players who appear in the four-day game. Unless otherwise stated, statistics quoted in this article are for the first-class fixtures only.

In 2008, for the first time a Twenty20 fixture was also played. [7]

The 2020 four-day match was delayed until September because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Records

Results

Up to and including 2020, 176 first-class matches were scheduled. Cambridge won 61, Oxford won 58, 56 were drawn and one match (in 1988) was abandoned without a ball being bowled. From 2021, whilst no longer first-class, the four-day University Match has been played under first-class conditions and has been won once by Cambridge with 2 draws.

The one-day University Match has been scheduled on 22 occasions. Cambridge won 8, Oxford won 12 and three have been abandoned.

List of university matches
No.DateVenueWinnersWinning marginNotes
14 June 1827Lord'sDrawn2-day match; no play on final day
25 June 1829 Magdalen Ground, OxfordOxford115 runs2-day match
323 June 1836Lord'sOxford121 runs2-day match
46 July 1838Lord'sOxford98 runs2-day match
517 June 1839Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 125 runs2-day match;
GB Lee took 9 of the 10 Cambridge wickets; the Oxford bowlers conceded 46 wides;
Oxford batted one man short in both innings.
68 July 1840Lord'sCambridge63 runs2-day match
714 July 1841Lord'sCambridge8 runs
89 June 1842Lord'sCambridge162 runs2-day match
98 June 1843Bullingdon Green, OxfordCambridge54 runs2-day match; originally scheduled for Magdalen Ground
104 July 1844Lord'sDrawn2-day match
1112 June 1845Lord'sCambridge6 wickets2-day match
Stephen Rippingall took 10 wickets in the match for Cambridge
1211 June 1846Magdalen Ground, Cowley Marsh, OxfordOxford3 wickets2-day match
1317 June 1847Lord'sCambridge138 runs2-day match
1415 June 1848Magdalen Ground, Cowley Marsh, OxfordOxford23 runs2-day match
1521 June 1849Lord'sCambridge3 wickets2-day match
166 June 1850Magdalen Ground, Cowley Marsh, OxfordOxford127 runs
173 July 1851Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 4 runs2-day match
188 July 1852Lord'sOxfordinnings and 77 runs2-day match; Cambridge only had 10 men
1915 June 1853Lord'sOxfordinnings and 19 runs2-day match
203 July 1854Lord'sOxfordinnings and 8 runs2-day match
2121 June 1855Lord'sOxford3 wickets
2216 June 1856Lord'sCambridge3 wicketscompleted in two days
2325 June 1857Lord'sOxford81 runs
2421 June 1858Lord'sOxfordinnings and 38 runscompleted in two days;
Cambridge all out for 39, their lowest total in the series
2523 June 1859Lord'sCambridge28 runscompleted in two days
2625 June 1860Lord'sCambridge3 wicketscompleted in two days
2717 June 1861Lord'sCambridge133 runs
2823 June 1862Lord'sCambridge8 wicketscompleted in two days
2922 June 1863Lord'sOxford8 wicketscompleted in two days;
Oxford's Arthur Teape took 6–19 in the Cambridge first-innings
3013 June 1864Lord'sOxford4 wicketscompleted in two days
3126 June 1865Lord'sOxford114 runscompleted in two days
3218 June 1866Lord'sOxford12 runscompleted in two days
331 July 1867Lord'sCambridge5 wicketscompleted in two days
3422 June 1868Lord'sCambridge168 runs
3521 June 1869Lord'sCambridge58 runscompleted in two days
3627 June 1870Lord'sCambridge2 runscompleted in two days;
"Cobden's Match"F.C. Cobden took the last 3 Oxford wickets in consecutive balls to win the match;
W Yardley scored 100 for Cambridge, the first hundred made in the series
3726 June 1871Lord'sOxford8 wicketscompleted in two days;
S.E. Butler took all ten wickets in Cambridge first innings and 15 in the match
3824 June 1872Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 166 runscompleted in two days;
W Yardley scored 130 for Cambridge
3923 June 1873Lord'sOxford3 wicketscompleted in two days
4029 June 1874Lord'sOxfordinnings and 92 runscompleted in two days
4128 June 1875Lord'sOxford6 runs
4226 June 1876Lord'sCambridge9 wicketsWS Patterson scored 105* for Cambridge
4325 June 1877Lord'sOxford10 wicketscompleted in two days;
FM Buckland scored 117 not out for Oxford
441 July 1878Lord'sCambridge238 runs AG Steel 8–62 & 5–11 for Cambridge;
completed in two days;
Oxford all out 32 in their 2nd innings, the lowest total in the series by either side.
4530 June 1879Lord'sCambridge9 wicketsAG Steel completed hat-trick for Cambridge
4628 June 1880Lord'sCambridge115 runscompleted in two days;
PH Morton completed hat-trick in Oxford's 1st innings
4727 June 1881Lord'sOxford135 runsWH Patterson carried his bat in scoring 107* for Oxford in their 2nd innings
4826 June 1882Lord'sCambridge7 wicketsGB Studd 120 for Cambridge;
CT Studd took 7–54 and 2–48 and scored 0 and 69;
but JEK Studd achieved nothing of note
4925 June 1883Lord'sCambridge7 wicketsCW Wright 102 for Cambridge
5030 June 1884Lord'sOxford7 wicketscompleted in two days
5129 June 1885Lord'sCambridge7 wicketsC Toppin 7–51 and HW Bainbridge 101, both for Cambridge
525 July 1886Lord'sOxford133 runsKJ Key and W Rashleigh put on 243 for the first wicket in Oxford's 2nd innings, scoring 143 and 107 respectively;
no one else reached double figures and the innings ended at 304;
in these pre-declaration days this collapse could have been deliberate
534 July 1887Lord'sOxford7 wicketsLord GW Scott scored 100 for Oxford. E Crawley scored 103* for Cambridge
542 July 1888Lord'sDrawnno play on 1st and 4th(!) day of match;
AHJ Cochrane 6–62 for Oxford
551 July 1889Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 105 runscompleted in two days;
SMJ Woods 6–42 and 5–40,
HJ Morduant 127, both for Cambridge
5630 June 1890Lord'sCambridge7 wicketsOxford 42 and 108;
Cambridge 97 and 54–3
5729 June 1891Lord'sCambridge2 wicketscompleted in two days;
after making Oxford follow on,
Cambridge struggled to 93–8 to win
5830 June 1892Lord'sOxford5 wickets MR Jardine 140 and VT Hill 114 for Oxford;
following on, Cambridge made 388 (EC Streatfeild 116)
593 July 1893Lord'sCambridge266 runscompleted in two days;
Oxford 64 all out in their second innings
602 July 1894Lord'sOxford8 wickets C B Fry 100* for Oxford
614 July 1895Lord'sCambridge134 runsHK Foster 121 out of 196 in Oxford 2nd innings
622 July 1896Lord'sOxford4 wicketsJC Hartley 8–161 for Oxford;
GO Smith 132 in Oxford second innings;
Oxford won despite a deficit of 117 on the first innings, scoring 330–6 in their second;
WG Grace jnr made a "pair" for Cambridge
635 July 1897Lord'sCambridge179 runs GL Jessop 6–65 for Cambridge;
PHE Cunliffe 6–101 for Oxford
6430 June 1898Lord'sOxford9 wicketsCEM Wilson 115 for Cambridge;
A Eccles 109 for Oxford
653 July 1899Lord'sDrawnBJT Bosanquet 7–89 for Oxford;
Cambridge were set 299 to win in 160 minutes but fell 70 short with 4 wickets down;
Jessop's 46 took only 30 minutes
665 July 1900Lord'sDrawnOxford made 503 (430–8 on Day 1);
with RE Foster scoring 171
Cambridge replied with 392
674 July 1901Lord'sDrawnER Wilson 118 for Cambridge;
Oxford slumped to 82–6 in their second innings,
but recovered to 177–7 to save the match
thanks to their opener CHB Marsham making 100 not out
683 July 1902Lord'sCambridge5 wicketsCambridge reached 274–5 in their 2nd innings thanks to SH Day's 117 not out;
in Oxford's 1st innings, they collapsed from 118 when the 1st wicket fell to 206 all out,
with EM Dowson and ER Wilson each taking 5 wickets
692 July 1903Lord'sOxford268 runsJE Raphael 130,
WHB Evans 7–52 and 4–34 for Oxford
7030 June 1904Lord'sDrawnJF Marsh 172* as opener in Cambridge 2nd innings out of 390-8d;
Oxford were 128–6 in their 2nd innings,
but recovered to 221–6 to save the game,
thanks to WHB Evans' 86*
716 July 1905Lord'sCambridge40 runsCambridge 101 behind on 1st innings;
LG Colbeck 107 in Cambridge 2nd innings;
Oxford 123 all out in their 2nd inngs,
with AF Morcom taking 6–41
725 July 1906Lord'sCambridge94 runsRA Yound 150 for Cambridge;
NR Udal 7–133 for Oxford
734 July 1907Lord'sCambridge5 wicketsHA Gilbert took 6–36 in Cambridge's 1st innings of 108 (in reply to 141);
Oxford managed only 112 in their 2nd innings
746 July 1908Lord'sOxford2 wicketsE Olivier 6–68 in Oxford's 1st innings;
in Oxford's 2nd innings they were 125–7 but recovered to 183–8 to win,
though Olivier took 4 more wickets
755 July 1909Lord'sDrawnrain affected;
HA Gilbert 6–52 for Oxford
764 July 1910Lord'sOxfordinnings and 126 runscompleted in two days;
PR le Couteur 160, 6–20 and 5–46 for Oxford
773 July 1911Lord'sOxford74 runsJF Ireland completed hat-trick in Oxford's 1st innings,
finishing with 5–25;
in the Oxford 2nd innings a middle-order collapse put them in danger of defeat,
but they recovered through 84 by H Brougham;
PR le Couteur took 8–99 in Cambridge's 2nd innings
(and 11 wickets in the match)
788 July 1912Lord'sCambridge3 wicketsin a match that was close throughout,
the scores were tied on 1st innings
797 July 1913Lord'sCambridge4 wicketsBGV Melle took 6–70 in the Cambridge 1st innings
806 July 1914Lord'sOxford194 runsCambridge all out 73 in their 2nd innings
817 July 1919Lord'sOxford45 runsM Howell 170 for Oxford;
AER Gilligan 6–52 in Oxford 2nd innings;
FCG Naumann 6–81 in Cambridge 2nd innings
825 July 1920Lord'sDrawnno play on first day; play extended by one day,
but the weather was so bad that there was not even a result on 1st innings
CS Marriott 7–69 in Oxford 1st innings
834 July 1921Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 24 runs H. Ashton 118 for Cambridge;
CS Marriott 5–44 in Oxford 1st innings
8410 July 1922Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 100 runs APF Chapman 102* for Cambridge;
GOB Allen 5–60 and 4–18 for Cambridge
859 July 1923Lord'sOxfordinnings and 227 runs"Thunderstorm match" completed in two days after torrential rain all night after Oxford's innings;
CH Taylor 109 for Oxford;
Cambridge 59 all out in their 1st innings,
GTA Stevens taking 6–20;
RHB Bettington took 3–19 and 8–66
867 July 1924Lord'sCambridge9 wickets HJ Enthoven 104 in Cambridge 1st innings;
PA Wright 6–49 in Oxford 2nd innings
876 July 1925Lord'sDrawn HJ Enthoven 129 in Cambridge 1st innings
885 July 1926Lord'sCambridge34 runsRGH Lowe completed hat-trick for Cambridge, finishing with 5–22
894 July 1927Lord'sCambridge116 runs AK Judd 124 in Cambridge 2nd innings;
ERT Holmes 113 in Oxford 2nd innings
909 July 1928Lord'sDrawn CKH Hill-Wood 6–79 in Cambridge 1st innings;
RWV Robins 101* in Cambridge 2nd innings
Oxford survived with 9 wickets down in their 2nd innings
918 July 1929Lord'sDrawnJT Morgan 149 in Cambridge 1st innings;
Nawab of Pataudi snr 106 in Oxford 1st innings and 84 in the 2nd
927 July 1930Lord'sCambridge205 runs IAR Peebles 7–75 in Cambridge 1st innings and 6–162 in the 2nd,
in which ET Killick made 136
937 July 1931Lord'sOxford8 wicketsCambridge made 385 (A Ratcliffe 201, RSG Scott 6–64);
Oxford replied with 453-8d (Nawab of Pataudi snr 238*);
Cambridge collapsed to 122 all out in their 2nd innings (EM Wellings 5–25)
944 July 1932Lord'sDrawnDR Wilcox 157 and A Ratcliffe 124 in Cambridge 1st innings;
BW Hone 167 in Oxford 1st innings
9510 July 1933Lord'sDrawna low-scoring affair, but poor weather prevented any chance of a result
969 July 1934Lord'sDrawnDCH Townsend 193 and FGH Chalk 108 in Oxford 1st innings;
JGW Davies, the 7th bowler tried, took 5–43,
the last 5 wickets falling while the score advanced from 406 to 415;
AW Allen scored 115 in the Cambridge 1st innings
978 July 1935Lord'sCambridge195 runsJH Cameron took 7–73 in the Oxford 1st innings;
Oxford 109 all out in their 2nd innings
986 July 1936Lord'sCambridge8 wicketsOxford followed on but narrowly avoided an innings defeat;
JM Brocklebank took 4–47 and 6–92 for Cambridge
995 July 1937Lord'sOxford7 wicketsNWD Yardley 101 in Cambridge 1st innings;
JN Grover 121 in Oxford 1st innings
1002 July 1938Lord'sDrawnGE Hewan 6–91 in Oxford 1st innings;
PA Gibb 122 in Cambridge 1st innings;
rain on the third day delayed play until 4pm;
Oxford finished the match only 18 runs on with 4 wickets left
1011 July 1939Lord'sOxford45 runsCambridge were 156 behind on 1st innings but were not asked to follow on;
Cambridge, set 430 to win by Oxford's declaration, managed 384 after being 249–8,
thanks to PJ Dickinson (100) and J Webster (60)
1026 July 1946Lord'sOxford6 wicketsMartin Donnelly 142 in Oxford 1st innings
1035 July 1947Lord'sDrawnHA Pawson 135 in Oxford 1st innings;
Cambridge forced to follow on, but comfortably saved the game
1043 July 1948Lord'sOxfordinnings and 8 runsPA Whitcombe 7–51 in Cambridge 1st innings;
HE Webb 145* for Oxford;
CB van Ryneveld 7–57 in Cambridge 2nd innings
1052 July 1949Lord'sCambridge7 wicketsOxford followed on
1068 July 1950Lord'sDrawnmuch of the 2nd day lost to rain
1077 July 1951Lord'sOxford21 runsa low-scoring game;
Cambridge reached 197–8 in their second innings, needing 22 more runs to win,
but both the last two wickets fell at that score;
RV Divecha took 7–62
1085 July 1952Lord'sDrawn Robin Marlar 7–104 in Oxford 1st innings;
David Sheppard made 127 for Cambridge, and they led by 136 on 1st innings;
at 135–8 Oxford looked likely to lose,
but they hung on for the draw at 179–9
1094 July 1953Lord'sCambridge2 wickets Colin Cowdrey 116 in Oxford 1st innings, who led by 121;
however Robin Marlar took 7–49 in their 2nd innings (following 5–94 in their 1st),
and Cambridge scored 238–8 to win, thanks to DRW Silk's 116*
1103 July 1954Lord'sDrawn MJK Smith 201* for Oxford;
DRW Silk 118 for Cambridge;
in their 2nd innings Cambridge had 8 wickets down at the game's end,
HB Birrell taking 5–20
1112 July 1955Lord'sDrawn
1127 July 1956Lord'sDrawn
1136 July 1957Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 186 runs G Goonesena 211 for Cambridge
11412 July 1958Lord'sCambridge99 runs
11511 July 1959Lord'sOxford85 runs
1166 July 1960Lord'sDrawn Nawab of Pataudi 131 for Oxford; AR Lewis 95 for Cambridge
11715 July 1961Lord'sDrawn
11811 July 1962Lord'sDrawnAR Lewis 103*
11913 July 1963Lord'sDrawn
1208 July 1964Lord'sDrawn
1217 July 1965Lord'sDrawn
1229 July 1966Lord'sOxfordinnings and 9 runs
1238 July 1967Lord'sDrawn David Toft 145 for Oxford
1246 July 1968Lord'sDrawn
12512 July 1969Lord'sDrawn
12611 July 1970Lord'sDrawn Majid Khan 200 for Cambridge
12710 July 1971Lord'sDrawn
1281 July 1972Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 25 runs
1297 July 1973Lord'sDrawn
1306 July 1974Lord'sDrawn
1315 July 1975Lord'sDrawn
13230 June 1976Lord'sOxford10 wickets
13329 June 1977Lord'sDrawn
13428 June 1978Lord'sDrawn
1354 July 1979Lord'sCambridgeinnings and 52 runs
13628 June 1980Lord'sDrawn
13720 June 1981Lord'sDrawn
13826 June 1982Lord'sCambridge7 wickets
13929 June 1983Lord'sDrawn
1404 July 1984Lord'sOxford5 wickets
1413 July 1985Lord'sDrawn GJ Toogood 149 and 8–52 (ten wickets in the match)
1422 July 1986Lord'sCambridge5 wickets
1431 July 1987Lord'sDrawn
(144a)2 July 1988Lord'sAbandoned
1445 July 1989Lord'sDrawnno play on final day
1454 July 1990Lord'sDrawn
1462 July 1991Lord'sDrawn
14730 June 1992Lord'sCambridge7 wickets
14830 June 1993Lord'sOxford9 wickets
14929 June 1994Lord'sDrawn
1505 July 1995Lord'sOxford9 wickets
1512 July 1996Lord'sDrawnAC Ridley 155 and WS Kendall 145 for Oxford
1522 July 1997Lord'sDrawn
153 1 July 1998Lord'sCambridge91 runs
154 25 June 1999Lord'sDrawn
155 11 July 2000Lord'sDrawn
156 30 June 2001CambridgeOxford3 wickets MK Floyd 128 not out for Oxford
157 26 June 2002OxfordDrawnCambridge 604, to date Cambridge's highest team score in the series
A Shankar 143 and JSD Moffat 169 for Cambridge
JWM Dalrymple 137 for Oxford
158 26 June 2003CambridgeOxfordinnings and 71 runs JWM Dalrymple 236 not out and 5–49 (1st inns) and MK Munday 5–83 (2nd inns) for Oxford;
SJ Marshall 126 not out for Cambridge
completed in three days
159 28 June 2004OxfordOxfordinnings and 77 runs JJ Sayers 147, DR Fox 104 and PJ McMahon 99 for Oxford
completed in three days
160 28 June 2005CambridgeOxfordinnings and 213 runsOxford 610-5dec.;
S Oberoi 247 for Oxford, to date the highest individual score in the series;
Oberoi and DR Fox (184) put on 408 for the third wicket, the highest partnership in the fixture
161 3 July 2006OxfordOxford9 wickets S Oberoi 115 and MK Munday 6–77 & 5–66 for Oxford
162 30 June 2007CambridgeDrawn
163 1 July 2008OxfordDrawnAS Ansari 193 & 80 not out and 4–50 (1st inns) and NMH Whittington 83 (1st inns) for Cambridge
EJ Morse 6–102 (1st inns) and N Kruger 172 for Oxford
164 7 July 2009CambridgeCambridge10 wicketsAS Ansari 132 (1st inns) and RMR Braithwaite 8–130 for Cambridge
N Kruger 98 (2nd inns) and R Sharma 5–96 for Oxford
165 6 July 2010OxfordOxfordinnings and 28 runs DA King 189 (1st inns), SS Agarwal 117 (1st inns) & 5–78 (2nd inns), AS Sharma 189* (1st inns), DC Pascoe 5–38 (1st inns) and AJD Scott 8–147 (both inns) for Oxford
PH Hughes 74 & 87, A Ashok 93 (2nd inns) for Cambridge
166 5 July 2011CambridgeCambridge56 runsPM Best 6–86 (2nd inns), ADJ Kennedy 5 dismissals (2nd innings) for Cambridge
R Sharma 114 (2nd inns) for Oxford
167 24 June 2012OxfordDrawn
168 2 July 2013CambridgeOxfordinnings and 186 runs SS Agarwal 313* (1st inns), TJ Williams 5–34 (1st inns) and 8–69 (match), SVS Mylavarapu 5–23 (1st inns) and 8–110 (match) for Oxford
PH Hughes 92 (2nd inns), TC Elliott 101 (2nd inns) for Cambridge
completed in three days
169 30 June 2014OxfordDrawn NJ Ferraby 107 and 69 for Oxford,
AD Sears 5–73 (1st inns) for Cambridge
170 30 June 2015CambridgeCambridge5 wickets MST Hughes 116 (2nd inns) for Oxford
AD Blofield 105 (1st inns), RJ Crichard 5–62 (1st inns), AR Patel 5–88 (2nd inns) for Cambridge
completed in three days
171 5 July 2016OxfordOxford103 runs MST Hughes 116 (1st inns), DA Escott 125 (2nd inns) & 6–71 (2nd inns), J Marsden 5–41 (1st inns) & 8–92 (match) for Oxford
AR Patel 5–86 (1st inns) for Cambridge
172 4 July 2017CambridgeCambridge216 runs RJ Crichard 5–74 (1st inns) & 6–68 (2nd inns) for Cambridge
173 2 July 2018OxfordOxford9 wickets MA Naylor 202 (1st inns), DA Escott 175 (1st inns), THS Pettman 5–41 (1st inns) & 8–113 (match) for Oxford
174 2 July 2019CambridgeOxford8 wickets GT Hargrave 146 (1st inns), THS Pettman 5–19 (2nd inns) & 8–80 (match) for Oxford
175 3 September 2020CambridgeCambridge249 runs PD Daneel 125 (2nd inns), JC Vitali 6–34 (1st inns) & 10–92 (match) for Cambridge
The final first-class University Match was delayed by two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic
176 7 July 2021Teddington CCDrawn
177 5 July 2022OxfordDrawn GT Hargrave 322* (1st inns), Joshua Royan 102 (1st inns) for Oxford
NP Taylor 126 (1st inns) for Cambridge
178 4 July 2023CambridgeCambridge176 runs S R Sardana 4-37 and 6-84 match 10-121 (Cambridge)
179 3 July 2024OxfordOxfordinnings and 6 runs T Brown 104* (1st inns), J Clarke 5-67 (2nd inns)

Highest and lowest scores by each side

Individual triple centuries

Individual double centuries

Century on first-class debut

Best innings bowling

Best match bowling

Hat-tricks

Match double (100 runs & 10 wickets)

See also

Notes

  1. Daily Telegraph, "Time-honoured matches given out at Lord's", 16 February 2022, page 3.
  2. Daily Telegraph, "MCC gives in to Eton-Harrow rebellion", 27 September 2022, sport section page 1.
  3. "Eton v Harrow and Oxford v Cambridge to stay at Lord's after MCC compromise", BBC, 15 March 2023, Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  4. The Oxford and Cambridge UCCE teams were rebranded as Oxford MCCU and Cambridge MCCU prior to the 2010 season.
  5. "Universities set to lose first-class status". ESPNcricinfo.
  6. Until 1854, with the exceptions of 1841 and 1850, it was played over two days instead of three.
  7. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.co.uk.
  8. ESPN Cricinfo. "Varsity Match: Cambridge University v Oxford University at Cambridge, Jul 2–5, 2013" . Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  9. Cricket Archive. "Most runs in an innings for Oxford University" . Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  10. Oberoi and D.R. Fox put on 408 for the third wicket, the highest partnership in the fixture. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 2006 edition, p290 & p925.
  11. Playfair Cricket Annual 2009, p133.
  12. "Cambridge University v Oxford University, 2019" . CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. Cricinfo, http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/985997.html
  14. Playfair Cricket Annual 2016, p213.
  15. Cricinfo, http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/395689.html
  16. "Scorecard University Match 1870". Cricketarchive.com.
  17. "Scorecard University Match 1879". Cricketarchive.com.
  18. "Scorecard University Match 1880". Cricketarchive.com.
  19. "Scorecard University Match 1911". Cricketarchive.com.
  20. "Scorecard University Match 1926". Cricketarchive.com.

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Oxford UCCE started their 2005 first-class season with a weak draw against a Gloucestershire side that opted to use the game as batting practice. Their second first-class game, against Derbyshire, Oxford UCCE did well in the first innings, dismissing their visitors cheaply and building up a large lead. However, they weren't able to dismiss them a second time, in a game which was reduced through rain. In the third match, they lost by ten wickets against Lancashire, after a poor showing in their second innings.

Cambridge UCCE had a good start to their 2005 first-class season, setting Essex a target of 270 to win, after declaring in their second innings on 255 for 4. They took 6 wickets in defending the total, although they lost to the county in the end. They then narrowly lost to Warwickshire before beating Yorkshire in their last game of the season against a first-class county. They also played two matches as Cambridge University against Oxford University, winning the one-day game, but falling by an innings and 213 runs in their final first-class game of the season.

The MCC University matches in 2005 are games played between the University Centre of Cricketing Excellence ("UCCEs") and first-class opposition. This is the first year the games are called "MCC" University matches, after the MCC announced a funding plan to support the development of student cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Melville</span> South African cricketer

Alan Melville was a South African cricketer who played in 11 Test matches from 1938 to 1949. He was born in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, South Africa and died at Sabie, Transvaal.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricket in England</span>

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.

Frank Carroll Cobden was an English cricketer who played for Cambridge University and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). In the University Match of 1870 he famously took a hat-trick comprising the last three Oxford University batsmen when Oxford required only three more runs to win. Thus Cambridge University won by two runs a match which they had seemed certain to lose. This feat led to the 1870 match becoming known as "Cobden's Match".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Newton (cricketer)</span>

Arthur Edward Newton was an English cricketer who played for Somerset in the county's pre-first-class days and then for more than 20 years after the team entered the County Championship in 1891. He also played for Oxford University and for a variety of amateur teams. As a cricketer, he was known as "A. E.", not by his forename.

Mervyn Llewellyn Hill was a Welsh first-class cricket wicketkeeper and batsman for Somerset between 1921 and 1932, and also appeared in matches for Glamorgan and Cambridge University. He was also a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) team that toured India in 1926–27 and helped lay the foundation for India's entry into Test cricket.

John Morley Lee was an English clergyman and cricketer who played in first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University, Surrey, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and various other amateur teams in the late 1840s. He was born at Chelsea, London and died at Botley, Hampshire.

Henry Tansley Luddington was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and the "Gentlemen of England" side in the 1870s. He was born at Littleport, Cambridgeshire and died at Ashdon, Essex.

The Reverend Walter Baptist Money was an English clergyman and cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, Kent, Surrey, the Gentlemen and several other amateur sides between 1867 and 1871. He was born at Sternfield, Suffolk and died at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Henry Perkins was an English lawyer, cricketer and cricket administrator. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, Cambridge Town Club, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and various amateur sides between 1854 and 1868, and he was the secretary of the MCC from 1876 to 1898. He was born at Sawston, Cambridgeshire, and died at New Barnet, then in Hertfordshire.

Herbert Pigg was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and other amateur sides between 1877 and 1891. He was born at Buntingford, Hertfordshire and died in Manitoba, Canada. His twin brother, Charles Pigg, also played first-class cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Rock</span> Australian schoolmaster and cricketer

Claude William Rock was an Australian schoolmaster and a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, Tasmania and other amateur teams between 1884 and 1893. He was born in Deloraine, Tasmania and died at Longford, Tasmania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Rotherham</span> English cricketer

Hugh Rotherham was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for a wide variety of amateur teams between 1880 and 1903, including the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Gentlemen, and a single first-class match for Warwickshire. He was born and died at Coventry.

George Durant Kemp-Welch was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Warwickshire, Cambridge University, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and other amateur teams between 1927 and 1936. He was born in Chelsea, London, and died in the V1 bombing of the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, in Westminster.

Edward Ewer Ward, born Edward Ewer Harrison, was an English clergyman and a cricketer who played in 11 first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) between 1868 and 1871. He was born at Timworth, Suffolk and died at Gorleston, Norfolk. He changed his name from "Harrison" to "Ward" in August 1868.

The 2019 Marylebone Cricket Club University Matches were a series of cricket matches that were played between the eighteen County Championship teams and the six Marylebone Cricket Club University teams (MCCU) of England and Wales. The first two rounds of fixtures were classed as first-class matches. Each county side played one fixture against an MCCU side ahead of the start of the 2019 County Championship.

References