IF Joe Ellis-Grewal is to follow in the footsteps of former England skipper Andrew Strauss and capitalise on his selection for the MCC University scheme, he admits there is no time like the present for making an impression.

The 23-year-old slow left-arm orthodox bowler is studying for a masters in global development at Leeds while receiving top-level coaching and playing opportunities with the Leeds and Bradford MCCU cricket academy.

Ellis-Grewal’s position on the scheme means he is in fine company.

England and Notts star Harry Gurney is another to have risen to success off the back of an MCCU career, as has Ashes winner Strauss – and Ellis-Grewal has started 2015 in promising form.

After being selected for the combined MCCU side that toured Abu Dhabi in March, he took four wickets in a first-class clash with Sussex – a performance that saw him offered a visit to Durham.

“You have to be quick on your feet with it all and take your chances,” he said. “Otherwise, you are three or four games in and you haven’t really done much to attract any of the county sides.

“It was a great experience with the combined side. It was beneficial to get the time out in the middle, and you can’t really complain at playing in that weather when a lot of my teammates were playing against Leicestershire in five-degree temperatures.

“Last year, I had never played second team cricket for a county, but then I managed to take more than 30 wickets for the seconds at several counties – I am very grateful for it all.”

Since 2005, the MCC has funded and administered six university cricket academies in England and Wales – including the Leeds/Bradford centre – giving each MCCU £92,700 per year to run their playing programmes.

It offers the best environment to obtain a degree, whether the dream of professional cricket becomes reality or not.