Oxfordshire Cricket is delighted to officially launch the Oxfordshire Bulls programme for 2020. The programme officially got underway on Wednesday 3rd of March at St Edwards School with the first indoor sessions taking place for Under 11s and Under 13s.
The idea of the “Oxfordshire Bulls” was conceived in the summer of 2016, the offshoot of a series of conversations over the summer, with the idea of increasing competitive match-play opportunities for children attending state primary schools. Whilst the Chance to Shine programme has been a superb initiative in preserving cricket in state schools, for those children with a real passion for the game, the typical cricket offering in a primary school is far removed from the regular hardball fixtures that make up summer term for most prep school boys.
The initial principle was to select a team of Year 6 (Under 11) children involved in the Player Pathway, and arrange summer term fixtures against a selection of local independent schools, offering the state-educated boys additional longer-format cricket, and starting to close the opportunity gap. The first fixture, organised at St Edward’s School against a Dragon School XI, was unfortunately cancelled due to rain, but the programme has since grown with fixtures with a number of other local schools, involvement in tournaments and coaching sessions at Wellington College, Abingdon School, and St Edward’s School.
The summer of 2019 saw “Bulls” sides compete in fixtures at Under 10 and Under 12 level, as well as in the original Under 11 age group, alongside a growing partnership with St Edward’s, and it is exciting news that the Spring of 2020 will see us offering an indoor component of the programme for the first time.
The Oxfordshire Bulls programme forms part of Oxfordshire Cricket’s strategy to engage children and young people and to develop an oversupply of home grown players who can thrive in local, representative and professional cricket.
The programme has been enhanced to bridge the gap between independent and state school playing opportunities within Oxfordshire, providing an individualised programme of support for state school players within the Under 10 to Under 13 age groups of the talent development pathway. The additional player development opportunities will provide an environment for players to develop their talent over time, with the support of pathway coaches and fellow peers.
The programme is underpinned by a collaborative partnership between Oxfordshire Cricket and St Edward’s School, who will host the enhanced programme this year and provide facilities for the sessions to take place during the winter months and matches to take place during the summer playing programme.