Sudbury all-rounder James Poulson is aiming to have the final say against his former university in this year’s Varsity match.

Poulson is in line to appear for Cambridge against Oxford in the four-day fixture, starting at Fenner’s next Tuesday, meaning he will miss Suffolk’s Unicorns Championship match versus Hertfordshire at Copdock.

Last summer Poulson played at Lord’s in the MCC Universities Challenge Final for Oxford MCCU, who he helped to a 37-run success over Loughborough.

He had previously played his one and only first-class game for Oxford MCCU against Warwickshire at The Parks in April 2014.

It means he has joined a small band of cricketers to represent both Cambridge and Oxford at cricket.

Poulson has appeared in both the T20 and 50-over fixtures against Oxford recently, winning one and losing the other.

He was on the losing side in last Friday’s 50-over match at Lord’s, which Oxford won by nine runs.

Poulson, who is 22, bowled a tight spell of 10-0-43-0 mid-innings without getting any reward, and when he went to the crease, Cambridge still required 60 runs to win off the last ten overs.

“I had to push the run-rate along when I went in and was out for six as we fell nine runs short. It is gutting to lose a close game like that, especially at Lord’s.”

Poulson played a key role as Cambridge won the T20 match the previous week at Fenner’s by 10 runs.

He said: “I had to bowl two of the final four overs with Oxford requiring 33 to win. They needed 17 off the last over, but I held my nerve and they only got six.

“The Varsity match at Fenner’s will decide who wins the mini three-match series. We really wanted to win it 3-0, after they defeated us 3-0 last year.

“I played with a few of the Oxford University lads when I was there and I also know the coach.”

Poulson has just finished his year’s teacher training at Homerton College in Cambridge and will be taking up a post at Woodhall Primary School in Sudbury, starting in September.