Durham University x Durham Cricket

2021 - 2029: marking a regional cricketing partnership with global impact

For the past five years we have joined forces with our neighbours, Durham Cricket.

We're celebrating by extending this partnership to the end of the 2029 cricket season, to bring further sporting benefits to the North East of England, and collaboration and learning opportunities for our students.

Discover more below

A group of women wearing cricket whites celebrating after a match.

Durham University x Durham Cricket

The extended partnership connecting two of the North East of England's leading institutions will bring together high-performance sport and education.

Collaborative work to develop the next generation of sporting stars will see a raft of opportunities on and off the cricket field for students. Durham Cricket will be able to work directly with our academic staff, to tap in to expertise in sport and exercise sciences, and nutrition. University staff and students will also be able to take advantage of ticket deals.

On top of this, the partnership also brings together two organisations which are passionate about promoting sport in our community, and helping to make County Durham a hub for sporting excellence, education, and participation.

Benefit headlines

Collaboration with our academic experts in sport and exercise sciences, and nutrition.
Workshops for our students, from cricketing professionals.
Cricketing guest speaker talks at the University.
Ticket deals for Durham students and staff.
University staff and student match day experiences.
Collaborative marketing activity.

Durham is an outstanding university for sport, from our talented student athletes to supporting grassroots and community clubs. Extending our partnership with Durham Cricket will offer high-value opportunities for our students, as well as further supporting the development of sport in our County and region.

Dave Coldwell

Head of Sport and Physical Activity, Durham University

Our cricket clubs

Our cricketing programme supports all levels of ability, indoor and outdoor cricket, and men's and women's games.

With between 130-150 members, our cricket club is one of the largest sports clubs at the University. Winter training combines with summer matches, and the club is one of the England and Wales Cricket Board's six University Centres of Cricketing of Excellence. The teams have earned success in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) fixtures over recent years, including the men's 1st team being named as BUCS indoor champions from 2019 to 2025, and the women's 1st team winning the BUCS indoor championships in 2026. A dedicated coaching team provides structure, connections for onwards career progression, and performance development opportunities internationally. The clubs play at the Racecourse in the heart of Durham city, and use our state-of-the-art facilities at the Sport and Wellbeing Park. Sportsmen and women make use of Merlyn and BOLA bowling machines, a performance gym, outdoor cricket pitches and nets, and a five-lane indoor cricket centre.

Find out more

Durham University men's cricket club (DUCC)

Male cricket players wearing whites and caps walk down steps. A sign saying 'Lads' and 'Lasses' with directional arrows is visible in the background.

Durham University women's cricket club (DUWCC)

A female bowler, wicket keeper and batter in action on a cricket pitch.

Cricket coaching staff

Sport at Durham

Discover other student enrichment activities

We've got 150 members [in DUCC], so we're a massive club that ranges from our high performance stuff, all the way down to our men's fives, which is for those who just absolutely love cricket. If you want to play cricket here at Durham, you will absolutely be able to via our collegiate system or for the club.

Jamie Cairns

DUCC President 2025/26 and Masters in Economics student.

Hear from our cricketers

We spoke to three members of our Cricket Club (DUCC) to find out their thoughts on cricket at Durham.

Ekansh Singh
George Kemkers
Jamie Cairns

Explore our sports scholarships

We support our student-athletes on and off the pitch. From strength and conditioning, to leadership training and mentoring, our skilled staff support players to be the best they can be. Our world-class facilities offer training and development opportunities, hosting the highest levels of British university sport, and providing a home for student, staff, and local community participation. Several undergraduate and postgraduate sports scholarships are available.

Find out more

Cricketing alumni on the national and world stage

After graduating from Durham, our cricketers walk a myriad of pathways. Some have become internationally recognised players, like Sir Andrew Strauss OBE, and Nasser Hussain OBE. Others are forging their careers in county teams across the UK. Others dive into grassroots cricket, helping to develop future cricketing generations.

Our men's and women's cricket clubs keep active links with their alumni and regularly welcome former members back to Durham for annual events.

Sir Andrew Strauss OBE

Economics, Hatfield College, 1995-98; Honorary Doctor of Civil Law, 2011

A close up of a cricket bat and ball on grass.

Nasser Hussain OBE

Natural Sciences, College of St Hild and St Bede, 1986-89

An image of a cricketer raising his cricket bat above his head. Out of focus wickets are in the foreground.

Holly Colvin

Natural Sciences, St Mary's College, 2009-12

An image showing a cricket pitch with a wicket in the foreground, and another one in the background.

Shan Masood Khan

Economics, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2010-12

An image of a cricket ball breaking into cricket stumps and wickets.

Nikhil Gorantla

Chemistry, Collingwood College, 2021-25

A dark blue cricket hat and ball in the foreground, a figure wearing cricket whites runs in the background.

Mia Rogers

Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Collingwood College, 2021-25

A line of unfinished cricket bats being made.

Tim O'Gorman

Law, St Chad's College, 1985-89

A cricket umpire stands with their back to the camera in the foreground. A cricketer hits a ball in the background.

Not just players

The cricket community at Durham is broad and covers a range of roles including players, coaches, umpires, members of professional cricket bodies, sports researchers and more besides.

We also have support from the cricket's National Governing Body, the England and Wales Cricket Board to enable us to deliver our cricket programme to the highest of standards.

130-150 students are members of our cricket club.

£15,000 donated by DUCC to charities over the past 12 months.