Irish University team for Fenners
Irish Universities have been invited to take part in an exciting new tournament to take place at the historic Fenner’s Ground in Cambridge in June.
The Irish side will play Cambridge University and Scottish Universities in a triangular tournament of 50 overs games.
It is a welcome development for universities cricket, which has seen a huge increase in activity over the past decade.
The IUCA Indoor Tournament takes place in Jordanstown later this month, with an entry from a record 17 universities and colleges throughout Ireland.
The Irish Universities side can draw on several top-class cricketers, including Ireland and Somerset spinner George Dockrell (Trinity), and representative players James Shannon (UU and Ireland), Tyrone Kane (UCD and Ireland A), Barry McCarthy (UCD and Leinster Lightning), Cormac McLaughlin (Trinity and Leinster Lightning) and Hugh Pike (Trinity and Gloucestershire U17).
The Cambridge tournament takes place at Fenner’s, with the opening game between the hosts and Scottish Universities on 9 June. Ireland play the Scots on 10 June, and finish against Cambridge University on 11 June, when they could come up against three Irish players who are currently in the Cambridge winter training squad – Michael Taylor, Ben Wylie and Patrick Tice.
About the Irish Universities Cricket Association
The IUCA was founded in March 1974 and has since run an annual intervarsities tournament, this year for the inaugural Trevor West Trophy. It competed in the British Universities Sports Federation tournament for several seasons, running out winners in 1986, 1988 and 2000, which were the first international cricket trophies won by an Irish side.
The IUCA also runs an annual indoor tournament, which will be held on January 24-26 at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. The Irish Universities XI will also play MCC on May 29 and Leprechauns on June 24, both games at College Park, Dublin.