Loughborough University Cricket Team are knocking on door of the ECB making the case for First Class status. They are now crowned the top University Centre of Excellence (UCCE) side for the second year running and have also won the National BUSA title for the third time.

"We are coming up with the goods, both in terms of player development and competitive results. I think the problem is that we are compromising the recognition of our players by not being given First Class status, when inferior sides have got it. If someone like Jimmy Adams, the young Hampshire player, scores 100 in each innings against a full Kent team, it is worth recording as first class," said Guy Jackson, Loughborough's Director of Cricket.

Jackson believes that if universities are to retain First Class status, the system should be revised to be more democratic, "The status should be given to the best three to reflect first class performances. This would bring harder competition to into the UCCE Championship" commented Jackson.

Graham Dilley, Loughborough Coach and England Assistant Coach added,

"Cricket at Loughborough is in many ways a significant ECB success story. It would be fitting to be awarded First Class status as this would raise the profile and prospects of our top players."

Loughborough have this year won both the BUSA One-Day Premiership and the ECB Two-Day UCCE Championship, repeating their 2001 double. The university's other cricket sides have been doing equally well. In another BUSA championship, Loughborough's 2nd XI won the 1st team competition for non-academy sides.

The university's elite young cricketers won the ECB's two day competition for it's UCCE's on 22-23 June, with a victory over Oxford University in the final match of that series. Early on they were 40 for 3, but managed to recover through solid mid-order contributions from first year PE student Mark Nash (93) and Northants' Rob White (65), the team set a total of 319-8 declared. They eventually claimed victory and secured the championship with 6 overs to spare, as Oxford were bowled out for 296.

On Tuesday 18 June Loughborough Students retained the National BUSA Premiership title with a thrilling last ball win against Durham. It was their third successive finals victory against Durham at the Fenner's Ground in Cambridge. Defending a potentially inadequate total of 190 in a rain-reduced match of 44 overs, Loughborough tore through Durham to leave them on 9 for 3 in their reply, then survived a spirited fight-back to win off the last ball as Durham fell two runs short. Loughborough's captain, the Northants contracted player Mark Powell, was named the Halifax `man of the match' for his leadership, top score and tight bowling.

The Loughborough Academy players now move into their last few matches before the students return to their County Clubs well prepared for the remainder of the season, and with exams completed. Today they take on Hampshire's 1st XI at the new `Rosebowl' ground at Southampton.

ECB Challenge Match at Lords

The showpiece of top-level university cricket will take place at Lords, 2 July, when Loughborough (ECB Championship winners) take on Oxford University, this year's ECB Championship runners-up, in what is a new style and more competitive `Varsity Match'.

© Loughborough University