Derbyshire cricket star set to receive honorary degree

Derbyshire County Cricket Club star Wayne Madsen is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Derby for his achievements on the pitch and his work to promote participation in sport in the county.

Wayne will be recognised with an Honorary Master of the University (HonMUniv) at the university’s Buxton Award Ceremony.

As well as students celebrating their successes, notable people with a strong connection to the university or to the county are chosen to receive an honorary degree at the annual awards ceremonies.

Wayne was born in South Africa where he made his cricketing debut in 2003.
He also made 39 appearances for the South African men’s national field hockey team and represented South Africa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2006 Men’s Hockey World Cup.

In 2012, he captained Derbyshire to the County Championship Division Two title and promotion to the top division and was a key factor in the club securing its first ever appearance at T20 Finals Day in 2019.

Wayne also works tirelessly in Derbyshire to promote cricket and participation in sport and demonstrates unwavering support for education and young people throughout the county.

He won the MCC’s Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Elite Award in 2013, the highest accolade a cricketer can win for good sportsmanship and has been an outstanding role model in the county for over a decade.

Wayne said: “It is a great privilege to receive this honorary degree and I would like to sincerely thank the University of Derby for such an award.

“The university is an integral part of the city and the wider county, providing a wide variety of opportunities for students of all ages to excel and recognise their potential, whether that be in academia, sport or as individuals.

“I have been in Derbyshire since 2009 and I am proud to call the county home and to live here with my wife and two daughters.

“Over the past 13 years, I have seen Derby continue to develop and strive for progress and I am pleased to be able to contribute in some way with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.”

In addition to Wayne receiving his honorary degree, 482 students from the Class of 2020 and 2021 are set to graduate at the Buxton Award Ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, 27 April, at the Devonshire Dome in Buxton.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “Graduation is a time to celebrate the hard work, commitment and successes of our students and we are so proud of everyone who is going to be graduating, particularly given the challenges they faced while studying throughout the pandemic.

“We are delighted to be presenting an honorary degree to Wayne, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest cricketers in Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s history and look forward to celebrating his achievements on the day.

“Our honorands provide inspiration for the thousands of our graduating students who are about to embark on their careers or further academic study.”