CORNWALL CRICKET LEAGUE 1905 - 2005 CENTENARY BOOK

by Martin Gilbert

Cornwall Cricket League Centenary Book 1905-2005 - '100 Not Out'

Review by Michael Weeks (Cornwall Cricket Media Officer/ Webmaster)

This year's centenary of the Cornwall Cricket League is being celebrated in style with the publication of the official 1905-2005 Centenary Book '100 Not Out'.

It has been researched and written by local cricket historian Martin Gilbert, of Liskeard, whose late father Donald was a former league official and archivist. The book is of 256 pages and is packed full of articles, facts, anecdotes and photographs as it chronologically traces the history of the League, with each year fully documented.

The front cover comprises of photographs of the current grounds of three founder member clubs, Truro, Lanhydrock and Camborne. One of the great bowlers to play in the league, Archie Smith of Gorran, has written the foreword. The book highlights the growth and triumphs over the years but also the failures and disappointments. It gives balanced views of some of the great controversies, quoting from those actually involved, either from the papers of the time or from League Minute Books.

The publication is divided into seven chapters beginning with a look at how cricket developed in Cornwall in the nineteenth century leading to the birth of the league in 1905. It goes on to chart the early years and those either side of the second world war through to the introduction of limited overs cricket in 1968 and the 'modern era' of countywide divisions from 1990. There is also a look at what may lie ahead in the future.

There are specific features on the eighteen clubs, who can all proudly lay claim to having been crowned County Champions. They range from the inaugural winners Helston to the 2004 champions St Just. From the most successful clubs, and incidentally the only ones to play in every season, Penzance and Camborne to the villages of Gorran and St Buryan. The book is not limited to the elite however with numerous references throughout to outstanding achievements in 'Junior' cricket.

There are also features on some of the great players of the past such as Clifford Casley, Archie Smith, Bill Murphy, Keith Scott, Ray Weeks, Jesse Lawry, Cyril Calloway, Brian Carter, Malcolm Dunstan to name but a few. The long serving League officers over the years such as Jack Littlejohns and Col. Ronnie Potts are not forgotten along with a feature on umpires.

Perhaps the most revealing sections are the references to some of the more 'controversial episodes' in the League's history. Back in the thirties allegations of 'illegal payments to players' caused 'quite a storm at the time'. The poor conditions of some grounds have also given concerns over the years along with various disciplinary issues. Five-hour time cricket came to an end in 1967. Previously some teams batted on past 6pm thus denying opponents any possible chance of victory, much to the disgust of spectators at the time. Then there was the crisis in the 1970's when in the west a breakaway was threatened by leading clubs. Automatic promotion and relegation in all divisions had been voted in, only to be vetoed later in a compromise. More recently the impact of overseas players, the formation of countywide divisions in 1990 followed by the introduction of an ECB Premier League in 2001 are all covered in detail with both sides of the arguments stated.

On the lighter side the book is littered with 'Odds and Ends' features giving a flavour of league cricket over the century. Amongst these are lists of players who have competed in the league ranging from Rugby Internationals to Test Players and from Football Internationals to Members of Parliament. There are numerous amusing stories such as cricket balls being hit down mineshafts to cars flattening stumps and pitches being embedded by roller parts. There have been games interrupted by swarms of bees and flying ants, a runner with the wrong coloured helmet and even a team that included the scorer's nightmare of eight players with the same surname!

With an appendix listing details of all the clubs that have ever competed '100 Not Out' provides a superb, comprehensive history of the first hundred years of Cornwall Cricket League and is a 'must read' for any follower, of any age, of Cornish Cricket.

Copies cost £8.50 (which includes £1.50 p/p). Cheques payable to 'Cornwall Cricket League.

Copies are available from

Michael Weeks, 9 Moor Street, Camborne TR14 8HN