DUCC members bowling away competitors on representative duties

With the cricket season in full swing, it has been an extremely busy start to the summer for Durham University Cricket Club (DUCC) members. After putting together a competitive 2022/23 season within BUCS and national competitions, 16 current students have continued to put in dominant performances with bat and ball whilst playing representative cricket.  

The main headline for DUCC and Team Durham coming out of the 22/23 BUCS season is the attention that Michael Booth has received from professional teams. Michael’s ability with the ball is amongst the best in the business, taking key wickets throughout the year earning himself DUCC’s leading wicket taker for the season. The pacey opening bowling caught the eye of Warwickshire CCC where he had previously represented the second team. Team Durham are pleased to announce  Michael has just signed his first professional contract with Warwickshire CCC and is eligible for the One Day Cup. It has not just been current DUCC members impressing with bat and ball. DUCC alumni  Ollie Price has played a major role with bat and ball alongside his brother Tom in the County Championship, scoring his maiden First Class hundred for Gloucestershire CCC, and in the Vitality Blast against recent graduates Joe Cracknell (Middlesex CCC) and Chris Benjamin (Warwickshire CCC).  

There has been plenty of County 2^nd XI appearances too, with Seb Allison (Durham), Nikhil Gorantla (Essex, Worcestershire & SACA), Ethan Berlusconi (Leicestershire), Ross Richardson (Northamptonshire), and Yash Vagadia (Yorkshire) all pushing for 1^st team call ups. Yash has recently signed an extension with Yorkshire CCC, following in Nik’s footsteps with 12^th man duties for England during the Headingley Test.

Elsewhere, Archie Atkins-Sloan has been playing for Yorkshire CCCD and winning the England Cricket Board Disabled Premier League. Lewis O’Donnell and Pranav Khera represented Scotland A in their recent test series. Josh Lawrenson and Patrick Gouge competed for Jersey in the most recent T20 World Cup Qualifiers, with more associate action later in the summer.  

With plenty more cricket to come in the summer, we hope to see more of our DUCC members pushing for 1^st team, 2^nd XI and National call ups alongside and against many former DUCC alumni.