Derbyshire unveil uni scholarship

Derbyshire and the University of Derby have joined forces to launch a new scholarship scheme for outstanding young cricketers.

The new scheme, named after for Derbyshire and England player and Oxford graduate Donald Carr, will enable promising young players to attain the best cricketing and academic education possible.

Fast-bowler Ed Jones, 18, has become the first player to benefit from the new partnership between the club and university which enables the best young players to take up free undergraduate degree courses.

The University of Derby Donald Carr Cricketing Scholarship gives Jones the opportunity to study a course in business and sports management whilst also continuing his development as a cricketer at the County Ground.

Jones, who has played seven times for the Derbyshire second XI this season and has taken nine wickets, will begin his course later this month and will also continue to train with the Derbyshire coaching staff throughout the winter.

It is the intention of both the club and university that Jones is the first of many young Derbyshire cricketers to take up the scholarship offer.

Former Derbyshire and England player Donald Carr gives his name to the scheme

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Derbyshire chairman Don Amott said: “This is an extremely exciting new scheme and offers young cricketers a great opportunity to further themselves both in their playing career and academically.

“The Donald Carr Scholarship will provide the best tuition available from both our coaching staff and the University of Derby’s team. Sometimes young players are forced to choose between furthering their studies and a career in cricket, this scholarship will ensure they are able to do both.

“We are delighted to offer Ed Jones this chance and hope he will be the first of many of the best young cricketers in the country who are attracted to the club and the University of Derby by this wonderful opportunity.’

Jones added: “It’s a good move for me. There is a lot more business involvement in sport now, and related job opportunities for when your playing career is over.

“I am delighted to be the first academy player to take advantage of this scholarship scheme and I am very grateful, both to the university and the cricket club, for giving me this opportunity.”

Hari Punchihewa, university pro vice-chancellor and finance director, said: “As part of the community we have an interest in helping Derbyshire retain the young cricketing talent it’s nurtured.

“The advantage of this scholarship scheme to the student is that they are having their fees paid for, so they will not need to take out a tuition fee loan as is the case with other students. Further, they can continue developing their cricket career whilst obtaining a valuable qualification to help them in the future.”

The partnership between Derbyshire and the university was inaugurated in honour of former Derbyshire and England all-rounder Carr.

Carr, now 81, played 336 first-class matches for Derbyshire between 1946 and 1963 and also played two Test matches for England in the early 1950s. Since then he has held a series of senior roles within Derbyshire, the MCC, the Test and County Cricket Board and the Cricket Council.