Cricket 1902

Nov. 27, 1902. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 463 SCOTTISH CR ICKET REFORM . (B y O ur S pe c ia l C orrespondent .) Though there was unmistakably a revival during the past season, the game in Scotland is still far behind what it might be. To discuss the “ why and wherefore” of this would be outside the scope of the present article. There is, however, no doubt that one of the chief reasons for the backwardness of Scottish cricket is to be found in the apathy and indifference on the part of the authorities to anything in the nature of reform. The course pursued by the “ powers that be ” may be described as one of “ drift.” The interests of players and spectators alike are practically ovtrlooked, and the game generally sadly neglected, the Northern Counties, who have embarked upon a pro­ gramme of their own, alone excepted. This is not as it should be. In the first place, it is very short-sighted to leave the game and players to take care of themselves, for one cannot expect cricket to im­ prove when nothing is done towards improvement, any more than one can expect grain to grow where no seed has been sown. And secondly, looking to the fact that the public is an indispensable factor when it is a question of guarantees, why should their interests not be consulted ? The public have shown themselves ready and willing to support t-cottish cricket, provided the “ bill-of- fare ” is to their liking. In proof of this I give the follow'- ing “ figures that are facts,” and which speak for them­ selves :— June 30 ) Edinburgh, Scotland July 1 | v. Australians ... July 5...Bro’ty Ftrry, Forfjr- *hire v. Perihsh re 15,CC0 Aug. 1,2. Perth, Perththire v. Foifarehire ......... 21,COO We must cater for the public by making our programme gener­ ally more attractive. There is no getting away from the fact lhat were our matches more attractivet he golf-links would be less frequented. Take matters as they stand at present. The average Scottish cricketer has no inducement held out to him to piny the game after he letves school. He soon becomes tired of the monotony of club matches, Saturday in, Saturday out, and knows that, however well he may play, his performances are as if they had never been, owing to representative matches being lew and far between. But this is not all. After a “ blob” or two he leaves the cricket field in disgust, never to return, usually seeking refuge in golf. Therefore, I say, we must introduce several much-needed reforms, and do more for the game than we have hitherto done. In a word we want more enterprise. Reform is bound to come sooner or later, and the sooner we depart from our Fabian policy, the better will it be not only for the game itstlf, but fur all who play and take an interest in the noble pastime. Reform, then, being urgently needed, I now venture to make some suggestions which, I believe, would, if adopted, do much towards raising Scottish cricket to that high standard to which it should ere now have attained. 1 .— O r g a n is a t io n . (a) We should have a representative “ Scottish Cricket Board” of not less than five members drawn from the different districts to select representative teams, control the finances, and look after the interests of Scottish cricket generally. • N.B.—Last season the selection of All Scot­ land elevens was in the hands of a committee of three, all belonging to the same district —the East. Consequently, the All Scotland eleven chosen to oppose the Australians was virtually an East of Scotland team, no fewer than seven of the eleven belong­ ing to Edinburgh clubs. Notwithstanding this, I believe the committee discharged their duty with an open mind. Since the committee all belonged to the same district, they could not be expected to have detailed knowledge of their own regarding the abilities of players in other districts. (b) Instead of the financing being done by the Grange, as at present, each club sending a representative to the annual meeting should subscribe a certain sum to a general fund, the control of which would be in the hands of the Scottish Cricket Board. N.B.—Why should the Grange take upon themselves all the risks and responsibilities incidental to the financing of representa­ tive matches? The Grange, having in the past lost heavily on these matches, became more or less chary of fixing up many guarantee matches. Last year the affiliated clubs wished to pay a subscription and their share in the risks and responsibilities. Why should they not be allowed to do so ? (e) An hour from the close of play each day in a representative match the admission tariff should be reduced to half-price. N.B.—This is in vogue at agricultural shows, etc., and might, with advantage, be applied to cricket matches, where a big guarantee is required. 2 .— T r ia l M a tc h es . (a) The Gentlemen v Playorsmatch should be revised. (£) The East v. West match should also be revised. N.B.—We do not, strange as it may seem to say so, know our own strength. Nor shall we until trial matches are re-introduced. In the absence of the trial element our representative elevens are composed mainly of players who make centuries by the dozen in club cricket, but who are useless when it comes to big matches. The player we do not wish in representative matches is the man who cannot resist the temptation to hit at every­ thing—the man, in short, whose innings in a big match always consists of one or two random hits and as many misses, the last one fatal. I have still another cason for advocating trial games, namely, that the gate money taken at these matches might go towards a general fund (tride 1, b) for bringing English elevens to Scotland. 3 .— R e PIIESENTATIVE MATCHES, (a) The M.C.C. should, every other year, send a first- class eleven, composed of amateurs and professionals, to Scotland to play an All Scotland eleven. N.B. I think the M.C.C., in their capacity as governors of the game, might do a little more for Scottish cricket than they do. Surely Scotland is not outside the j urisdiction of the M.C.C. Year in, year out, the Grange meet, and as often as not beat, rather weak M.C.C. elevens at Lord’s, but the Marylebone Club never send an eleven to Edinburgh to play the Grange or any other team, Were the M.CC. to do as I suggest, they would not only give our represen­ tatives a good test, but do much to popularise the game in the Scottish capital, where, of all placts, cricket is most in need of a stimulus. (i) Two matches between the Gentlemen of Scotland and the Gentlemen of Ireland should be played each year. N.B.—Cricket is, I believe, much the same in Ireland as in Scotland, and the matches suggested would doubtless be the prelude to healthy rivalry between the two countries in the lvture. (i c ) A representative eleven of the Gentle­ men of Scotland should every three years make a short tour in England (for educational purposes), playing the follow­ ing first-class elevens :—M.C.C. and Ground, London County, Oxford Uni­ versity, and Cambridge University. N.B.—Were this suggestion adopted, it would do much to improve the play of our amateurs, and give them that confidence and experience which they so badly lack. Then, again, amateur bowling is fast becoming a lost art in Scotland, the work in too many cases being left to the pro­ l",000 MR. C. T . SI ANN K3, 1 H 8 WKLL* KNOWN SCOTTISH CR1CKKTKR. (From a photo by R. C, Platt , South Bridge Street , Airdrie )