Cricket 1902

102 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M at 1, 1902. THE SCOTTISH COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. By o c r S p e c ia l C o r r e sp o n d e n t . “ Everything comes to them who wait.” After waiting long and patiently the chief cricketing counties North of the Forth—Perthshire, Forfarshire, Stirling­ shire, Aberdeenshire, and Fifeshire—have now the satisfaction of constituting the new Scottish County Championship. The introduction of the competitive element should do much for the develop­ ment of, and increase the interest in, cricket in Scotland. Speaking generally, there has been very little of the nature of competition in Scottish cricket for several years past. As competition has done the game no harm, either in England or in Australia, there seems no reason to doubt that Scotland will be an exception. “ Friendly ” matches are all very well in their own way, but it does not do for them to reign supreme. The inauguration of a County Championship has been discussed for a considerable period, and it was only in December last that the time was con­ sidered ripe for starting the movement. The initiation was taken by the Perth­ shire Club through Mr. R. MacGregor Mitchell and Mr. A. K. Bell. That the proposal should have emanated from Perthshire was only fitting, seeing that Perth was the birthplace of Scottish cricket, the game being played there for the first time in Scotland as far back as 1812. At one time many thought that the new venture would have been on a larger scale, but it is now admitted that the promoters have done wisely in deciding to begin cautiously. If the venture prove successful—and the promoters have every reason to be sanguine—hopes are entertained that other counties, such as Mid-Lothian, Renfrewshire, Selkirkshire, and Roxburghshire will be included later on. Mid-Lothian and Renfrewshire could put splendid teams into the field, while Selkirkshire—the training ground of Rhodes—and Roxburghshire also con­ tain many good players. But a great deal will depend upon the manner in which the venture is organised, and the support given and enthusiasm displayed by the public. Although the chief object of the County Championship is to introduce the competitive element and thus stimulate more interest in the game, it issatisfactoryto know that the endeavours of the promoters will not end there. Every effort will, I understand, be made to get strong English elevens to Scot­ land. The suggestion has been made, and is receiving due consideration, that an English eleven might be invited each year to play a combined eleven of the counties, the match to take place on the ground of the Champion County of the year. This is an excellent suggestion and one which 1 hope will be adopted. If Scottish cricket is to be improved, and improvement is certainly much needed, we must have more opportunities of playing against and watching men who are better than ourselves. The County Championship, which will be somewhat of the nature of an experi­ ment during the present season, will be conducted as far as possible upon the same lines as exist in England. Certain modifications of a less stringent character have of course been deemed necessary in the regulations to suit the conditions which obtain in Scotland. The regu­ lations, which will be in force during this season, may also be said to be of an experimental character, and some amend­ ments therein will doubtless be found necessary later on. Forfarshire, Aber­ deenshire, Stirlingshire, Fifeshire and Perthshire are the competing counties for 1902, but any other counties will be allowed to take part provided that two- thirds of the competing counties will agree to their inclusion. Mid-Lothian, Renfrewshire, Selkirkshire, Roxburgh­ shire and Clackmannan are the most likely counties to join later on. Each county taking part in the Championship must play home-and-home matches with the other competing counties. As regards the qualification of players, no one will be qualified to play for any county who is not resident for at least two months during the twelve previous to playing, or one month in the three preceding years, in the county for which he elects to play. No player shall play for more than one county competing in the Championship during the season, but any player may play for the county of his birth provided he does not play for any other competing county. This qualification is hardly stringent enough; a player should be resident in the county for which he elects to play at least five or six months during the twelve previous to playing. It is, I may say, not improbable that the qualification will next year be more stringent. The num­ ber of professionals to be played on each side is to be limited, no county being allowed to play more than two. The positions of the counties will be determined as in England, viz., the county which shall have obtained in finished matches the greatest percentage of points shall be the Champion County. One point shall be reckoned for each win; one deducted for each loss; and unfinished games shall not count. Lastly, the Committee of Management will consist of one representative from each county. Forfarshire will supply the Chairman for the first year, and each county thereafter in rotation. The Chairman will have a casting as well as a deliberative vote. The meetings of the Committee will be held in Perth. As regards the different counties, some remarks concerning them may not be out of place. All are capable of putting string elevens into the field. Perthshire and Forfarshire, in particular, have many go;d players to draw upon. Keen though the rivalry between the two counties has been in the past it will be even keener—if that be possible—now that they have something for which to play. Perthshire will be strong in all departments, especially in batting. R. MacGregor Mitchell, A. K. Bell, J. Mailer, G. Burnfield, J. Anderson, M. M. Herd, with Smith (D.) and Turner (W. H.), professionals, will form the nucleus of a capital side. C. T. Mannes, R. Hailey and Dr. Stuart may occasionally assist. Smith, before going to Perth in 1899, did good work in Natal, where he was associated with Llewellyn (Hants). He headed the Scottish batting averages last season with 62, and is a worthy successor even of such great players as Louis Hall, J. T. Brown and Haigh of Yorkshire. Forfarshire are also a very fine all-round team. Their batting and fielding are very good and they have some very promising bowlers—particu­ larly left-hand—at their command. The following team should take a lot of beating:—W. R. Sharp, J. A. Kyd, D. Ferrier, J. P. Gibb, J. A. Grant, J. B. Craik, G. K. Chalmers, J. K Whitehead, and D. Chapel, with Higgins (P.), Parkes (S.), or Chambers (G. H.), professionals. W. R. Sharp, the captain, is a splendid batsman, and is one of the select band of Scottish cricketers who have made a thousand runs in a season. Higgins is a veteran, even for a professional, he having played regularly for the Broughty Ferry Club for twenty years. Chambers and Parkes are from Notts. Forfarshire have also a good slow bowler in A. Lindsay, late of Fettes. Stirlingshire, than whom there are no keener cricketers in Scotland, are a strong combination with some excellent fieldsmen. As they are most assiduous in their net-practice they are bound to meet with success sooner or later. C. W. Forbes, W. Wilson, A. Smith, J. H. Orr, J. A. L. Dunlop, D. Gellowlees and S. Scott, with Hallas, T. (prof.), will form the backbone of the team. The war has robbed them of one of their best and most popular all-round cricketers. I refer to Dudley H. Forbes, an old Eton Captain and Oxford “ Blue,” who last year succumbed to enteric fever at Kroonstad. The prospects of Aberdeenshire are very bright, and they should render a good account of themselves with the following players:—H. M. W. Gray, W. Webster, R. Graham, R. T. Reid, W. S. Brown, J. G. Chalmers, H. H. Smith and Johnston, A. (prof.). R. Graham is the slow right-hand South African bowler of last year. W. Webster assisted Ealing C.C. last season, and when playing against London County bowled W. G. Grace in his first over. In addition to making a good score he took seven wickets for 56 runs. R. T. Read has just returned from Hong Kong; while W. S. Brown’s batting average last year was 47. Johnston was very successful with the ball last season, capturing as he did 112 wickets for 8 runs each. Last, but not least, Fifeshire, whose interests will be well looked after by Mr. J. D. Boswell, have some very good players, among whom are, T. Johnston, A. J. MacGregor, A. E. Connon, D. J. B. Kirke and R. K. Smith, with Mitchell, Broadley (Burntisland), Vernon, J. H., and Taylor, G., professionals. T. John­ ston is the well-known Grange batsman, and has, I am informed, promised to