NEW PLAYERS

If you are interested in finding out more about UNSWCC, please contact the club at cricket@unsw.edu.au

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PLAYERS

Although the majority of UNSWCC players are students, staff, or alumni of the University, membership is open to anyone who is keen to improve their cricket and contribute to the inclusive atmosphere of the club.

Opportunities are available in all Grades, especially to committed players seeking to play First or Second Grade, and/or First-Class Cricket.

We are also particularly interested in attracting:

• Current students of the University of New South Wales (UNSW)


• High school students considering attending UNSW in the future, including country cricketers thinking of moving to Sydney to study


• Players with aspirations to play First Grade or First-Class cricket

We also welcome players wishing to try out for our AW Green Shield squad (U16s).

Junior players from U8s-U16s are invited to contact our allied junior club, Randwick Junior Cricket Club. Both UNSWCC and Randwick JCC run in2Cricket programs for kids aged 4-7.

WHY PLAY FOR UNSWCC?

EVERY CRICKETER AT THE CLUB ENJOYS FIVE KEY BENEFITS:

• First-class coaching set-up


• Outstanding facilities


• Convenient location: close to the Sydney CBD, beaches, and the Sydney Cricket Ground/Cricket NSW


• Welcoming club culture


• Access to informal career and professional mentoring through our senior players, administrators, and alumni network.

FOR ELITE PLAYERS, WE ALSO OFFER:

• World-class specialist coaches for batting, fast bowling and spin bowling


• A clear path to First Grade, First-Class cricket and the Big Bash League/IPL


• Sporting and academic scholarships for selected candidates
(Scroll down for more details.)

The club also offers access to a number of scholarships each year, including:

• The Lexcen scholarships for outstanding student athletes


• One or more scholarships specifically for young players of country origin

ELITE PLAYERS
The club has a proud record of developing first-class and international players. The club has produced 2 Test players in its relatively short history, Michael Slater and Geoff Lawson, while in recent years Daniel Christian, Tom Cooper, Murray Creed and Tim Lang have all earned State contracts while at UNSWCC.

COUNTRY PLAYERS
UNSWCC has been a second home to numerous country cricketers over the years, including Test representatives Geoff Lawson and Michael Slater.

As well as a warm welcome, the club provides ongoing social and professional support, and assistance with the relocation process as needed.

We have a number of scholarships for country cricketers moving to Sydney, and can assist you with securing places at several of the University's residential colleges if required. The colleges are a good option for many country students, offering accommodation, full meal service, and an instant social network at the university.

KEY ATTRIBUTES OF UNSWCC

FIRST-CLASS COACHING SET-UP
(including world-class specialist coaches)
Our club coach is David Jebb who is supported by former state cricketers Tim Lang and David Dawson.

• TIM LANG returned to UNSWCC in 2011/12 after having spent 2010/11 with South Australia (a season in which he made his Sheffield Shield debut.) Tim has taken 238 First Grade wickets for UNSWCC at just 22, and made 2200 runs at 27. He was a NSW contracted player from 2006-08 and is also a Level 2 coach. He understands both the technical aspects of batting and fast bowling and what is required to be successful at First Grade and First Class level. He will be the club's 2011/12 Head Coach.


• DAVID DAWSON played 7 seasons of professional cricket with Tasmania, and was the first player in Australian cricket history to make a century and carry his bat on Sheffield Shield debut. An outstanding keeper-batsman, David is also a qualified Level 2 coach and personal trainer, and is the club's Assistant Coach.


• GEOFF "HENRY" LAWSON took 180 Test wickets for Australia from 1980 to 1989 and is NSW's second-highest wicket-taker of all time with 395. A qualified optometrist (graduating from UNSW) and Level 3 coach, Henry coached NSW from 1995-97, Pakistan from 2007-08 and has recently assumed the reins at the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL. A leading commentator and thinker on the game, he is also widely credited with influencing the aggressive style of captaincy adopted by Mark Taylor and later Steve Waugh during his time as captain of NSW (1988-92). Henry continues to consult as a specialist fast bowling coach to Cricket NSW.

OUTSTANDING FACILITIES
Most grounds in Sydney are owned by the relevant local council so the quality of the playing and practice facilities varies depending on funding levels and the quality of the groundsmen. By contrast, our grounds are owned by the University, and are prepared to a consistently high standard:

• Our First and Second Grade ground, the Village Green, has excellent cricket wickets and a lightning-fast outfield. In 2011 it was rated the best ground in Sydney across the second half of the season while in 2009 it was Pakistan's training base for the ICC Women's World Cup.


• Our Lower Grade grounds, David Phillips North and David Phillips South have traditionally featured excellent batting tracks and slick outfields. Currently being completely redeveloped, they will be the best lower grades in Sydney from 2011-12, with brand new change rooms, viewing facilities, club rooms and scoreboards.

FROM A TRAINING PERSPECTIVE:

• The entire David Phillips complex was recently redeveloped to become UNSW's Home of Sport. This includes new turf and artificial practice wickets, dressing rooms, grandstands and lighting to allow night practice and play.


• Having two sets of turf nets allows us to rotate usage, meaning our practice decks will always be in good condition while the artificial nets will be used concurrently for throwdowns and the bowling machine, or practice after wet weather. Both sets of nets will be floodlit, ensuring good light to bat in even during the shorter, pre-daylight saving afternoons in the early season.


• We also have the ability to have regular centre wicket practices.

WELCOMING CLUB CULTURE
UNSW prides itself on being a friendly, non-hierarchical club at which new players settle in quickly and where players of all ages and Grades mix freely off the field. The club has a vibrant social calendar and provides an instant network of friends, especially for players new to Sydney and/or a university environment.

CONVENIENT LOCATION
UNSW is located just 7km to the southeast of the Sydney CBD. As the closest Grade club to the SCG and Cricket NSW (just 3km away), its location is ideal for cricketers aspiring to play at the highest level.

Within easy reach of numerous beaches, plus entertainment precincts such as Paddington and Surry Hills, it also suits newcomers to Sydney wanting to enjoy the best of the city's lifestyle. Of course it is also perfect for students coming to UNSW to study.

MENTORING
As a university club, UNSWCC is conscious of helping young players balance cricket with their education and professional development. After all, the vast majority of young cricketers play for enjoyment and will not make a living from the game.

Hence we offer formal and informal mentoring through our senior players, administrators and extensive alumni network, which includes a wide range of successful professionals and business people.

PATH TO FIRST CLASS AND REPRESENTATIVE CRICKET
As a Grade club, UNSWCC provides a direct path to NSW selection for all game formats and at all levels. The club also has a direct line to the IPL and T20 Big Bash League, which features two Sydney teams, the Sixers and the Thunder. The club has a proud record of developing international and first-class cricketers:

• UNSWCC has produced 2 Test players since entering Grade cricket in the 1970s. Michael Slater was one of the most exciting opening batsmen Australia has produced, scoring 5000+ runs and 14 tons in 74 Tests. "Slats" also scored nearly 4000 runs and 14 tons for UNSWCC. Geoff Lawson was the spearhead for the Australian pace attack in 46 Tests, took 213 First Grade wickets and helped deliver 2 First Grade premierships for UNSWCC.


• In 2010 Daniel Christian became the club's third international and Australian Twenty20 Cap No.44. Dan played for UNSWCC from Green Shield at the age of 14 to his signing to a professional contract by South Australia in late 2007. In January 2011 he was signed to a 3-year deal by the Deccan Chargers IPL franchise for some $US900,000 per year.


• In the past few years Tom Cooper, Murray Creed, Tim Lang and David Dawson also earned NSW State contracts while at the club. Both Tom and Tim were later signed by South Australia, Tom in 2008/09 and Tim in 2010/11. Tom subsequently made a century for the Prime Minister's XI against the West Indies, was part of the SA Redbacks team which made it to the 2011 Champions League T20 final and played for the Netherlands in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.


• Exciting paceman Timm Van Der Gugten was our latest cricketer to move states for professional cricket, moving to Tasmania after previously having a NSW rookie contract.


• The club has also helped develop leading young cricketers such as Mitch Gowland (NSW 2nd XI) and Angus Robson (NSW U19s).

SPORTING AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

More information on University and club scholarships, including the Elite Athletes and Performers Program, can be found on our Scholarships page.