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[george_parv]

Going off to University of Bath in September was wondering what the standard is like at university level? will definitely try for the team but wondering if anyone has played it and could compare it to perhaps the equivalent league standard. Also wondering whether upgrading the tiny pads I use to run fast between wickets might have to be in order to avoid looking like a tit.

Cheers

[Manormanic]

Don't know what its like nowadays (I suspect it depends rather more than it did on where you are studying) but when I played in the mid to late 90s the standard was absolutely (No Swearing Please) hot.  I kept to an attack with a lad who played for Barbados, two County Second XI bowlers, probably the quickest bowler I've seen (long story), a leggie who had represented Bangladesh and an offie who played in the Varsity Match.  At Liverpool, we shipped 377 in 60 overs.

[ianbuchanan]

I hear Bath is pretty decent for cricket, a pretty good uni all round for sport!

I'm off to Cardiff next month and reckon the standard is good there, a mate of mine opens the batting with me in the West of England Premier 2 league, and he didn't even make the 2nd XI at Cardiff...

[Neon Cricket]

Bath have a very good side, but equally a very good set up so you should be able to train etc regardless of ability - I finished up in Swansea just over a year ago and we were just one division below the prem (2 below the MCCU leagues). The first were as good as any club team I've played against, in general you'll find that your university cricket is on par, if not higher, in standard that normal club cricket.

To compare it to what I know, 1st team uni cricket would be on par with Birmingham League Div 2 (if not a bit better).

Good luck in Bath though, great uni to be at!

[Neon Cricket]

I hear Bath is pretty decent for cricket, a pretty good uni all round for sport!

I'm off to Cardiff next month and reckon the standard is good there, a mate of mine opens the batting with me in the West of England Premier 2 league, and he didn't even make the 2nd XI at Cardiff...

They're a mixed bunch, being at Swansea we play the Varsity game against them and it appears the club was very clicky - clearly some better players in the 2s than the 1s, I'm sure this will have changed since I was there though - good bunch of lads mind, loved a beer!

[Gingerbusiness]

My mate (The guy who is in the AOC gear test with me) was selected in the Cardiff MCCU squad but basically got frustrated at the end of the 2nd Year as the 1st XI is made up of Glamorgan coaches and players - and in his opinion, he has not been given a fair shot. Don't think he is going to play for them next year.

I was at Southampton years ago. Was in the same squad as Tom Burrows (Ex-Hants/Berks) wicketkeeper. Was a very decent standard.

[calcurtis98]

I'm hoping to get into bath in two years time so let me know how it goes!

[Leddster138]

My mate (The guy who is in the AOC gear test with me) was selected in the Cardiff MCCU squad but basically got frustrated at the end of the 2nd Year as the 1st XI is made up of Glamorgan coaches and players - and in his opinion, he has not been given a fair shot. Don't think he is going to play for them next year.

I was at Southampton years ago. Was in the same squad as Tom Burrows (Ex-Hants/Berks) wicketkeeper. Was a very decent standard.

I played 3 years of MCCU at Cardiff and he's spot on. Admittedly I played 6 years ago but I think the same guy runs it and back then he took credit for developing Mark Pettini and James Thomlinson (both already contracted) and didn't really know what to do with everyone else. He just seemed to pick the guys whose coaches rang him up directly. I got dropped (not that I was anything special) for an Indian spinner whose coach said he played first class cricket in India. After 2 warm up games I got drafted back in as he wasn't landing it and  Matt Maynard asked how he got in the team after spending an afternoon hitting him into the Taff .

Going off to University of Bath in September was wondering what the standard is like at university level? will definitely try for the team but wondering if anyone has played it and could compare it to perhaps the equivalent league standard. Also wondering whether upgrading the tiny pads I use to run fast between wickets might have to be in order to avoid looking like a tit.

Cheers

Bath Uni were a good team. As someone mentioned, Uni cricket is a mixture of gun players and people who are available! So the leagues can be strong but the teams tended to vary at different times of the year. You'll have a blast either way as Sports teams at Uni are great fun to be part of.

[edge]

I'm off to Cardiff next month and reckon the standard is good there, a mate of mine opens the batting with me in the West of England Premier 2 league, and he didn't even make the 2nd XI at Cardiff...

Surely not? I've just finished at UWE, played against both Cardiff teams indoor and out for the last few years and they really aren't all that great, particularly the 2s! They do play a decent standard to be fair but nothing special, someone batting at that level for their club should definitely be in with a shout for Cardiff 1s. Our 2s have been in the same league as them for the past few years and usually have a pretty poor batting lineup!
Bath have usually been fairly strong when I've played against them, again nothing to write home about though. Not sure what league they're in these days but their 1s are usually a very good side, down to their 3s who aren't.

Uni cricket is a strange business, because selection is usually done by fellow students (apart from at the very top level) and based only on nets/whether they like you or not, a lot of good players can slip through, especially when you don't actually play and proper cricket till the end of the year. Commitment to the club will help you a lot as that's often what committees will be looking for. Also very hard to predict the standard as there's such a high turnover of players - a uni side can easily go from superb to poor in one year if a lot of top players graduate together and it happens that the new intake isn't very strong.

Highly recommend getting involved in uni cricket though, particularly somewhere like Bath who should have a strong coaching setup. Even if you don't make it into the 1s/2s the amount of training/coaching you'll have access to can improve your game a lot, I know it did for me. And of course the social side is great if you throw yourself into it.

[ianbuchanan]

Surely not? I've just finished at UWE, played against both Cardiff teams indoor and out for the last few years and they really aren't all that great, particularly the 2s! They do play a decent standard to be fair but nothing special, someone batting at that level for their club should definitely be in with a shout for Cardiff 1s. Our 2s have been in the same league as them for the past few years and usually have a pretty poor batting lineup!
Bath have usually been fairly strong when I've played against them, again nothing to write home about though. Not sure what league they're in these days but their 1s are usually a very good side, down to their 3s who aren't.

This is good for me to hear, as I've been worried i wont get in either side. I was a bit surprised when he told me didn't get in either team, as we play a pretty good club level against a lot of pro's/county 2nd teamers. Hopefully I'll make a team when i'm there!

[tim2000s]

I know it's twenty years ago, but we had three/four sides at uni. I spent three years as club secretary (effectively running the club), and the 1s and 2s played uni league, 3s and 4s played local club sides and uni non-league sides. The idea was that with enough people playing, we got better facilities and funding, so it made sense to run the lower sides.

If they don't exist where you are going, it doesn't hurt to get involved and get something like that set up.


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[Howzat]

Uni cricket is still quite strong, I played in the Southern Prem which is one promotion below UCCE sides, opened the batting all season and had a high score of 12... its tough. Most teams have a few guys who have played county 2's or better although teams strength is largely dependent on who is avaliable  Bath are in that league and were decent from what I remember although naturally I wasn't in for long enough to get a good idea!

[george_parv]

Thanks guys guess I'll give it my best shot at trials hit a bit of form at the end of the year at club level so hopefully I can carry that over and yeah Bath looks a great uni cannot wait to get started there

[PunterPonting]

Played Bath earlier this summer, a decent team with some good seamers but not a great deal of quality batting. Used to be stronger I believe. The best bit of Bath Uni Cricket is that you play at Bath CC which is a lovely place to play! Would say Bath's cricket isn't as strong as its hockey, athletics or football, but that isn't to say that it isn't good.

[ianbuchanan]

Good news, got through the initial trial 2 weeks ago, and was invited back last week. Somehow got through that one too and have been selected in the squad of 32! Was a bit surprised as around 100 people trialled so pretty chuffed.

Training 3-5 times a week which should be decent.