England Test Captain promotes MCC Universities scheme
Friday 6 May 2011
England Cricket Captain Andrew Strauss believes the MCC Universities scheme helped him to progress as a player, learn how to train and play sport professionally, and develop the important leadership skills which he now utilises to captain the national side.
Strauss’s comments were made as part of a new MCC Universities promotional film, which has been produced to highlight the benefits of the scheme to outstanding young players who are considering their next steps in cricket and education.
In the film Strauss identifies the significance of being able to combine these two activities:
“One of the great benefits of the MCCU scheme is that it prevents people from being forced to choose between education and playing cricket professionally. It is important that young players can continue their education and at the same time progress into the professional game.”
The film also includes input from MCCU head coaches Graeme Fowler (Durham) and Graham Charlesworth (Oxford), and England Women’s player, Holly Colvin, who is a current student at Durham University. In the film Colvin identifies how a degree will help with her career away from the cricket field:
“Since women’s cricket is not currently a professional game, getting a degree was hugely important when I was thinking about my future. One of the key aspects about the MCCU scheme therefore is that I have been fully supported in all respects – I have been able to continue my education whilst playing international cricket.”
In addition, Oxford MCCU Captain Ed Young, who was signed by Gloucestershire at the end of the 2010 season, explains the very positive influence that the scheme has had on his game:
“When I started at university I was playing at an alright level, but playing professional cricket was more of a dream than a realistic goal. My development through the Oxford MCCU scheme has helped make this a reality.”
The new MCCU film has been released today – to view it please visit: www.mccuniversities.org
