Oxford MCCU are raring to go as they open a new season with a 50-over friendly against Leicestershire in The Parks today (11).

The students have been busy preparing for the campaign not just in Oxford, but at destinations around the world.

The Blues squad are on tour in Sri Lanka where they have won four of their five games so far.

And Oxford’s Steve Leach, Lloyd Paternott and Abi Sakande are representing the Combined MCC Universities in Abu Dhabi.

They will be missing today when Sam Weller leads the students out.

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Oxford will choose from a squad of 13, which also includes Oxfordshire and Banbury opening batsman Lloyd Sabin and Oxford CC’s Jasper Davies, who has also played for the county.

After today’s friendly, Oxford have first-class games against Worcestershire(April 2-4) and Middlesex (April 7-9), plus a non first-class fixture against Surrey (April 12-14).

Head coach Graham Charlesworth said: “Every county we play it is the week before their first Championship game, and they will be coming to hit the ground running, so that is quite exciting.”

Oxford MCCU: from S Weller (capt), A Martin, B Broughton, D Wells, E Ellis, H Hughes, J Grundy, J McIver, J Davies, L Sabin, L Webb, M Kidd, W Marriott.

Leicestershire: from A Robson, M Boyce, D Redfern, N Eckersley (capt), N Pinner, T Wells, L Hill A Ali, B Raine, J Naik, J Sykes, O Freckingham, C Shreck, A Wyat