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After the club received the accolade of ‘most improved team’ last year, this season should be an exciting one, with both the first team and the second team looking to generate promotion pushes.
There will also be two Roses matches on the Friday of Week 3, which should provide fierce rivalry and excellent entertainment.
The Yorker takes a closer look at each team and their chances for the season ahead...
First XI: After narrowly missing out on promotion on net run rate last year, the UYCC firsts will be looking to make amends this year under the stewardship of James Oldham as captain.
They begin their campaign with a tricky game in the North East against Teeside University firsts and Oldham has picked a squad that contains a mix of first years and more experienced players, such as ‘keeper Rich Hoggart and club president Ed Wilson.
In addition to this, the squad has been called in for three days of pre-season training and they will play a warm up match against the UYCC 2nd XI in an effort to ensure that everyone is ready for the opening game of the season.
A highlight of the season for the first team this year will be a game against the MCC, which should be a fantastic opportunity to showcase cricket at York.
The Yorker’s one to watch – Alex Kirkpatrick: it may seem slightly surprising to name a first year as a ‘one to watch’ but Kirkpatrick has shown in pre-season training that he is a tall, fast bowler who can generate bounce off a good length and that he has explosive hitting abilities with the bat. He should be a valuable asset to the first team squad this season.
Second XI: just like the UYCC firsts, the second XI will be looking to gain promotion this season after a positive campaign last year.
New captain Ben Bartlett has assembled a strong looking squad, full of experienced players, and will want to start the season strongly and build momentum in the early games. Both social secretaries Will Smith and Danny Cain are included in this squad, and no doubt this will ensure a light-hearted edge is present in the dressing room and should work wonders for team morale!
The 2nd XI will begin their season against Leeds Medics before travelling to Leeds Trinity University College in Week 2 for their first BUCS fixture. The Roses match against Lancaster should provide the highlight in what will hopefully be a successful season for the 2nd XI.
The Yorker’s one to watch – Ben Bartlett: a talented cricketer with both bat and ball, Bartlett should bring a great deal of solidity to the 2nd XI this season. As captain, Bartlett will have added responsibilities but his style should create a strong competitive mentality and hopefully bring out the best in his own game.
Third XI: The UYCC 3rd XI are somewhat an unknown quantity but everyone loves the underdogs and in no way should they be taken lightly. They will play in the same league as the 2nd XI this season, and captain Tim Blades will undoubtedly want his team to be a competitive force and push their club rivals hard for higher positions in the league.
They will begin the season with a home fixture against Leeds Trinity on the Wednesday of Week 1 and will follow that up with a game against Sheffield Hallam in Week 2.
The Yorker’s one to watch – Tim Blades: again, I’ve gone for the captain as the ‘one to watch’ but for slightly different reasons. Blades will be swapping his American Football kit for cricket whites next term and will be responsible for creating a winning formula. His leadership style should allow his players to relax and enjoy their cricket and hopefully that will bring the best out of the UYCC 3rd XI.
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