A Catch Up with Ben Walkden

Recently elected First Eleven Captain Ben walkden has sat down with us and shared his views about his new position, his leadership style and the upcoming season as well as those who have held the role before him.

‘Firstly, I would like to say I feel honoured to be named First Team captain.

I feel excited to take this job on, and have some big shoes to fill looking at recent captains. I hope we can enjoy our cricket this season, it’s a long summer with a block of big fixtures and taking back trophies to Manchester would be an added bonus.

I will be a fair but firm captain, everyone across the two years will get a shot if they perform well, whether that be in training or the 2XI. I want to Also make sure they have the right winning attitude. We are going out to play hard, competitive cricket no matter the opponent.

We feel as a group we have many strengths weather that be batting, bowling or fielding to beat the big named schools across the country. Looking around the two years, I feel we have a bunch of talented, mature young cricketers that will fight for the badge and represent us very well. I can’t wait to get started and lead this wonderful college.’

Ben will start his first XI campaign, COVID permitting, on Monday 12th April, which is the start of our traditional cricket week, which kicks the season off after Easter. This would normally be a week where we play strong university opposition in University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett, Loughborough, Cardiff metropolitan University and the University of Liverpool.

This may well be a little different this year as we wait to see if University Sport can return to normal again, although we have confirmed fixtures that week against Newcastle Under Lyme School, Myerscough College (Preston) and Leeds Beckett University, we will confirm other Cricket Week fixtures when we are able.

Following our cricket week, we have a full summer term of Wednesday fixtures and occasional representative fixtures as well.