Students triumphant at inaugural Kellogg Community Cricket Match

Those who ventured to University Parks on Sunday 19 May were greeted by glorious early summer sunshine, a glass of Pimm’s, and the fantastic spectacle of the first-ever Kellogg College Community Cricket Match. Over 100 Kellogg members participated as players or spectators. Students, staff, and Fellows were joined by their families, friends, and even two corgis, to celebrate this inaugural College event.

The honour of hosting this inaugural match fell to the Parks’ Cricket Pavilion, the University’s first-class cricket ground. The Victorian Pavilion, situated at the same distance from the wicket as the Pavilion at Lord’s, added a touch of grandeur to the proceedings. The two teams, comprised on one side Kellogg College Fellows, Common Room Members, and Staff, and the other Students, vowed to live up to lofty expectations.

The format was 12-overs-a-side ‘Kwik cricket’ with Finance Bursar and Official Fellow Gary Walker serving as umpire. The Student team consisted of: Tim Fraser (Captain), Felix Braband, Mike Hardy, Eeshani Bendale, Adrian Stokes, Fergus Munro, Patrick Davenport, Neil Godfrey, Bob Sira Sira, Vicente Rodriguez, Matthew Williams, and Shubhagata Choudhury.

The Fellows, Common Room Members and Staff Team included: Shabaz Hussain (Captain), Jessie Weavers-Medina, Elizabeth Dawson, Sharika Khan, Alex Hoeffler, Andrew Snelling, Robin Cohen, Subhashisa Swain, Paul Du Gay, Raul Intriago Olaya, Jason King, and Mike Thompson, with Mario Gely as reserve.

Having won the toss, student Captain Tim Fraser invited the Fellows and staff to bat first. This no doubt worked on the preferred England principle of chasing down a high score after seeing the impressive warm-up of the Fellows and staff team.

The Fellows and staff team duly got their innings off to a flier, with the top four batters taking the team score from 200 to 207 after the first four overs. The innings progressed with a series of ups and downs to a total score of 213 after all 6 pairs of batters had finished. 40 runs were deducted for players getting out 8 times. All batters noted that they were just finding their form when their obligatory time at the wicket came to an end. The students were quietly confident after a strong team bowling and fielding display.

After a short break between innings, the Students set about their task with a briskness and athleticism beyond that of the Fellows and staff. Having fewer wicket deductions from their score – student batters losing their wicket on only four occasions, the students passed the Fellows and staff total and didn’t look back, ending with a very impressive 249 to win the match.

Student Team Captain, Tim Fraser said: “I was delighted to captain the Kellogg Student team in the inaugural cricket match against Kellogg Fellows, Common Roome Members, and Staff. The entire team, from beginners to more experienced players, delivered an outstanding performance that secured the Students their first victory. The day was made extra special by a fun and friendly atmosphere on a warm summer’s day on Oxford’s most prized cricket pitch.”

The day was concluded with the trophy awarded to the students amidst much celebration. Thanks to the fabulous attitude of all participants, this was a day as much about fun and friendship as about winning (or so say the Fellows and staff).

The camaraderie is fitting as the event is a prelude to the new annual Kellogg Community Week and our upcoming Giving Day on 11 and 12 June. We hope that this event will be an annual highlight of the Kellogg calendar and a staple feature for years to come.

This inaugural game would not have been possible without the efforts of so many in the Kellogg College community. Special thanks to Alex Hoeffler, Alumni Relations and Events Officer, who organised the event. He played very valiantly in a game for which—unfortunately, as an American—he knew very little about until the day itself.

Thanks also to the rest of the Development Team (Sharika Khan and Elizabeth Dawson) for making the day happen, Finance Bursar Gary Walker for taking on the role of Umpire, Tim Fraser for bringing an enthusiastic team and supporters, Felix Braband and his bar team for keeping everyone well-hydrated with Pimm’s, tea, and soft drinks, and to Kabilan Puliyadi for scorekeeping. Thanks also to our excellent catering, the venue, the teams, and, of course, the weather.