Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

Counties competition, who won five out of eight matches and finished fifth in their table. He was at the forefront of a debate with MCC on pitch covering. Derbyshire had been censured for engaging in this heinous crime, so other counties had let the matter drop . . . but not Leicestershire. He notes: ‘The MCC replied by refusing to give permission for the idea to be carried out. They said that doubtless there were very good reasons from a monetary point of view, but that was not what cricket was played for. It could deprive cricket of the element of chance and thus make it less of a sporting game.’ Surrey would have nothing to do with the idea, but then again Surrey were in robust financial health, whereas Leicestershire, following the dismally wet season of 1924, had a deficit of around £2,000, so attitudes were bound to be coloured. Among his press cuttings are: ‘E.G.Hayes, the County coach and former Test player, and Geary, when interviewed both stated that they thought the idea excellent, and one that would be of great assistance to the weaker counties.’ . . . ‘Geary stated that he thought the game would become more popular as a result of this, and Ernie Hayes said the amount of time saved would be extremely great.’ Leicestershire 101 Cover of a Hayes scorebook used by Durham County Cricket Club in 1924 and 1925.