Charles Randall: A few paragaphs will give students a lift (7 Aug 1997)

Thursday 7 August 1997

A few paragaphs will give students a lift

By Charles Randall

UNIVERSITY students will become involved in more firstclass cricket, not less, if the English Cricket Board`s in- tentions to rid this sector of an "elitist" image are followed through.

Universities were accorded only three short paragraphs in the ECB`s blueprint for the future on Tuesday, but even that brief mention hinted at exciting changes, with up to six institutions in line for first-class status, weakening the traditional influence of Oxford and Cambridge.

The ECB and the British Universities Sports Association are to look at the feasibility of establishing centres of excellence at a small number of institutions, with a chance of perhaps three first-class matches each.

This implies Oxford and Cambridge would lose half their county fixtures, and it suggests institutions such as Durham - a welcome return of first-class cricket to the Racecourse in prospect - being offered a taste of the three or fourday game during the short summer term.

Loughborough, Bristol, Manchester, Swansea, Kent, London and Exeter are the type of universities in a geographical spread likely to be considered, probably sharing facilities with county boards.

Though Fenner`s and The Parks helped undergraduates such as Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter and Mike Atherton on their way, the likes of Nasser Hussain (Durham) and Mike Smith (Exeter) had very little opportunity for high-grade experience in termtime.

The privileged position of the two old universities in firstclass cricket has come under severe scrutiny. Recent teams, with notable individual exceptions, have fallen below first-class standard, and both institutions could justifiably have been stripped of their status years ago.

The ECB report neatly injects a positive note into this debate, suggesting ways that status can be earned and therefore retained.

The decision by Philip Weston to give up an opportunity to study at Oxford in favour of his Worcestershire career, though honestly made, was a terrible slur on the professional game and on the university scene.

John Carr, an ECB official, said the ECB were anxious for university education, outside Oxford and Cambridge, to be seen as an advantage for ambitious cricketers rather than a handicap.

He said yesterday: "The game is regarded as elitist, which is something we want to refute. We don`t want counties to try to persuade players not to go to university or players to decide it is not worth it for their county careers."

The ECB`s report confirmed Oxford and Cambridge univer- sities would continue to stage first-class matches against county sides next season.

The report added: "However, both universities must ap- preciate their first-class status will be in jeopardy unless they take positive steps to ensure they raise the standard of their cricket sufficiently to be able to compete effectively under any new arrangements for university cricket."

Oxford and Cambridge will find it hard to comply with ECB intentions unless they lay down a consistent admissions policy and unless they facilitate centres of excellence, which both institutions lack.

In both cities gifts, endowments and investment are attracted to individual colleges more readily than to the university as a whole. Centres offering sports science, physiotherapy, indoor nets training and medical back-up do not come cheap.

The British Universities Sports Association have welcomed the ECB report. Jim Ellis, an official, said yesterday: "We`re happy to be included at all. It would have been disastrous if we hadn`t. We`re happy that about 130 universities playing cricket come into the equation, not just two."

The ECB are likely to float the idea that each of the 18 counties would be required to play one three-day game against students. The mathematics suggest six universities would be the ideal number.

At the very least, Australian grade cricket rules could be tried out. That is a first innings of 100 overs per side over two days with an emphasis on first-innings supremacy. There is a small points bonus for an outright win after a fur- ther innings, if time permits.

Ellis said: "Universities don`t fit into any sort of system at the moment. With students v professionals, it`s always going to be difficult to compete."

Oxford versus Cambridge would retain first-class status in deference to their long history. BUSA launched their own streamlined championship this summer, with four regional premier leagues playing off to the final, which Durham won. The one-day 60-overs format was as close to the ECB ideal as practicable.

The ECB will wait until the end of August before deciding what to name their three proposed conferences. There is poten- tial for sponsorship of each, which would be a cut above simply A, B and C.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)