Competition to reward sides which uphold spirit of the sport

Apr 25 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

PLAYERS’ good behaviour in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition will lead to two clubs receiving special Spirit of Cricket awards for their on-field conduct this year.

Under the new scheme, all sides in league and knockout matches at which Merseyside Cricket Umpires Association members officiate will be awarded points by the men in white. Those teams who exhibit “totally unacceptable behaviour” will – like the occasional Scandinavian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest – receive “nul points”, while those who “epitomise the spirit of Cricket” will receive five points.

The scores will be added up and averaged over the number of games played, and those at the top of the pile in Premier League and First Division will be presented with a cash prize at the league’s AGM.

The award aims to recognise those teams who, regardless of results, play the game “in a correct and traditional manner” and the scheme is the brainchild of the former league cricket chairman Malcolm Barber, who this year celebrates a quarter of a century’s involvement with the Competition.

“I wanted to see it introduced because cricket is special and such a scheme is in existence in the first-class game,” said Barber, one of the umpires whose reports will decide the destiny of the prize.

“‘It’s not cricket’ is a well-worn phrase but I do think it means something, even if not as many batsmen ‘walk’ as they used to,” he added. “But the maintenance of the spirit of cricket has improved in the Liverpool Competition over the last six or seven years, even if that is the result of umpires reporting more players and the clubs knowing what to expect.”

In the battle for league points one of tomorrow’s most intriguing games will take place at Smithy Lane where Northop Hall – two wins from two matches in 2008 – entertain a newly-promoted Rainford side which has been strengthened by the recruitment of Michael Lambert.

Elsewhere, there’s a fascinating clash in prospect at Billinge Road where Highfield take on another of the early season favourites for promotion, Newton-le-Willows.

But perhaps the award for the most entertaining cricket played so far should be shared between Ainsdale and Liverpool who made light of last Saturday’s freezing weather and managed to tie their match, both scoring 221.