The Cricket Statistician No 195

46 Ireland’s Intercontinental Cup match with Kenya was on course for a stale draw when Townsend suggested to Trent Johnston that Ireland declare behind. Kenya had applied for Test status and Townsend reckoned they would have to respond to the challenge rather than be seen to be afraid of losing to the Irish. Johnston was convinced and duly declared 88 behind, which stunned the Kenyans – even the umpires didn’t know what was going on and remained on the field. The Africans lost three quick wickets and next day were bowled out for 156, and Ireland won by four wickets. It was a stroke of genius – and one endlessly retold here – which guarantees him a footnote in future volumes of Irish cricket history. Which this isn’t, to be fair. What it is, is a rollickingly well-told tale of one of modern cricket’s most amazing stories. A bunch of teachers, salesmen and a sprinkling of pros going to the 2007 World Cup and knocking out Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Further glories followed, none better than beating England in 2011, before ICC eventually conceded that Ireland was worthy of full membership. The book ends on a happy note, not with Ireland’s inaugural Test against Pakistan in 2018, but their third, a year later, at Lord’s, with Tim Murtagh strolling up the steps of the pavilion mulling what he will have for dessert having bowled England out for 85 and got his name on the honours board at the ground where he played county cricket for more than a decade. “We had worried privately that one side in this Test might have their inadequacies sharply exposed and be rolled in an embarrassing heap – we had not for one minute considered that side would be England.” That match, of course, ended in ignominious defeat for Ireland but the story was already over by then. Ger Siggins Burghley Park Cricket Club: a History By Derek Patience, self-published, pp128, paperback, £11.99, ISBN 9798564377652 This is an interesting little book which fundamentally covers the history of cricket in the Stamford area of Lincolnshire. The author claims that the club commenced playing in 1771, ‘predating even the MCC’ but there are many clubs whose foundation is earlier than the Marylebone club. This 1771 date is intriguing, however, in that it is unusual to find a reference to an actual cricket club as early as this. There are many references to matches at this time in countless towns and villages in the country but in most there is no evidence of organization which could be termed a ‘club’. The Stamford Mercury 27 June 1771 informed the public ‘that on Tuesday 2 nd July, the cricket club will be held at the Stand, on the Race Ground, Stamford, and continue every Tuesday fortnight after during the present season.’ Whether this has anything to do with the Burghley Park Cricket Club is doubtful and it is unfortunate there is apparently no other information about this club other than a number of references to fund raising. There are no mentions of actual matches at this time and the first known report of a Stamford team does not come until 29 June 1818 when they were beaten