Eight years
ago, in the early days of The Flag, Jim Lynch caused a minor brouhaha by
casting doubts on the popularity of cricket in Scotland – he was probably
right from the point of view of spectators but as I pointed out at the time
there are more cricket clubs in Aberdeenshire than there are in Yorkshire,
England. That must be true as my Dominie at St Combs Primary School, who
played for Huntly CC, told me so! He also taught me the rudiments of the
game.
I was
reminded of this on Monday as I settled down to listen to Scotland v England
on Radio Scotland in the very first official cricket game between Scotland’s
national team and England. Although there has been the occasional exhibition
or friendly game it has taken 220 years before the first serious game, a
one-day match at the Grange in Edinburgh, attended by First Minister Alex
Salmond. Scotland regained the status to play one-day internationals (ODIs)
in 2005. Fortunately or unfortunately the start was delayed due to rain
until 12.30 pm enabling me to switch on in time for the start after a
morning volunteer shift at New Bayview, home of East Fife FC. I almost
wished immediately that I had missed it as Scotland put in to bat slumped to
only 11 runs for three wickets. But a spirited fight-back from Gavin
Hamilton (60 runs) and Colin Smith (36 runs) ensured that Scotland finished
the revised 44 overs on 156 for 9. England responded with 10 runs off the
first 15 balls as they chased the Scots total before rain once more stopped
play and the game ended up as a no-result.
The
full house at the Grange showed that there is an audience for the top games
in Scotland. Hopefully rain will not ruin the next major ODI in Scotland
next year when the Scots will face the power of Australia on 28 August 2009.
Further good news emerged this week that Scotland will also take part in the
ICC World Twenty20 tournament in England next year, following the formal
withdrawal of Zimbabwe. They will face stiff opposition in the shape of
South Africa and New Zealand in Group D.
Hopefully
Scotland will find some top form batting in these matches, and preferably
someone who can hit a century. On a historic note the first recorded cricket
century to be scored in Scotland was made by the Hon Charles Lennox, way
back on 9 October 1789. He scored 136 not out on that day. Cricket grounds
were firmly established before the emergence of modern football. Indeed the
first International football match played in the world – Scotland v England
– took place at a cricket ground in Patrick, Glasgow. A crowd of 4,000 paid
a 1/- a head to watch the 0-0 draw. Scottish writers such as Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle and James M Barrie were keen cricketers and as you will see from
this week’s History Dates ,108 years ago, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle bowled out
the legendary W G Grace, one of England’s greatest ever batsmen.
With
some 200 local clubs and over 25,000 people involved in the sport, cricket
has a firm place in the traditional way of life in Scotland. In towns and
villages, the length and breadth of the nation, resounds to the sound of
ball on willow during the summer months. Week in and week out fielders will
hope to avoid the dreaded dropped catch but this week’s recipe – Dropped
Scones – should appeal to all cricketers when the stumps are drawn.
Dropped Scones
Ingredients: 4oz self raising flour; pinch of salt; 2oz caster sugar; 1
egg; milk to mix, approx 4 tablespoons
Method:
Mix the flour, salt and sugar, add the egg and gradually beat in the milk to
make a thick batter. Bake 2 or 3 at a time by dropping spoonfuls of the
mixture on a hot, well-greased griddle. Butter and enjoy.
