The MInor Counties Championship 1900

5 counties. These proposals were in line with the views of the Association and were not subject to a long discussion. Second-Class County Championship ñ It was proposed that a second-class county championship ìbe competed for by the second-class counties and the second elevens of the first-class counties. No county or second eleven be eligible unless it shall play home and away matches with at least four other teams, themselves being fully qualified competitors.î This proposition was put to the meeting and carried. It was agreed that the proposal should govern the rules of the 1900 competition. [In practice, as described later this proved not to be the case.] It was further decided that ìevery effort should be made to obtain full recognition by the first- class counties and the MCC of the Minor Counties Competition as the Second Division of the County Championship, and to secure a recognised system of promotion by meritî. A so-called ëemergency committeeí was set up to further these objectives consisting of Oliver Nares (Berkshire), Percy de Paravicini (Buckinghamshire), ëPatí Darnell (Northamptonshire), Audley Miller (Wiltshire) and Harry Mallett (Durham and Hon Secretary). Additional Competitors in the 1900 Championship - It was announced that Yorkshire second eleven would compete in the 1900 competition, and it was expected that Lancashire second eleven would also play the necessary number of matches to qualify. In addition, the reformed Bedfordshire club intended to enter and Oxfordshire and Staffordshire would also be seeking to re-qualify. [As reported later, these expectations with regards to the second elevens of the first- class counties were not fully met.] Neutral Umpires ñ The meeting reconsidered the issue of requiring neutral umpires to officiate in all matches. Once again the proposal was rejected, primarily though not solely on grounds of cost, but in cases where it was possible, it was agreed neutral umpires would be employed. [The names of umpires are not known for many matches in 1900, but where they were, there is limited evidence to suggest that anything was achieved in this area.] Other Business ñ It was agreed that the Association should again accept an invitation to play a representative match with the MCC. [A fixture with the touring West Indian team was subsequently also agreed.] A proposal was endorsed that each county should subscribe ëhalf a- guineaí [10/6d] to meet the expenses incurred in carrying out the work of the Association. Finally, Harry Mallett was thanked for his services to the Association and re-elected as Hon Secretary. With the advantage of hindsight, it seems surprising that there appears to have been no debate at the meeting about the points system, which could lead to a team with only one victory and no defeats sharing the title with a team that had won all their matches. The system was not to be changed until the 1902 season. THE 1900 MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP The Counties Involved Of the eleven teams that qualified for the table in 1899, all did so for 1900 ñ Berkshire , Buckinghamshire , Cambridgeshire , Durham , Glamorgan , Hertfordshire , Norfolk , Northamptonshire , Northumberland , Surrey 2nd XI and Wiltshire .