Price gives Merrion edge in equality

Merrion seem to have set something of a record last week, while simultaneously striking a blow for the equality of the sexes. Merrion defeated Drummond by 25 runs to capture the Beckett Cup, the trophy competed for annually by the winners of the 20-overs competitions in the Leinster and Northern Cricket Union areas.

Merrion were without their regular wicket-keeper Gus Joyce, who was away with the national squad in North Wales. So into the club's first XI came Julia Price, who must surely be the first woman to play senior club cricket in this country?

The girl done good, as the saying goes. Price (28) conceded no byes, which perhaps isn't all that surprising given that she is an Australian women's Test cricketer, and has already played regularly on the Merrion men's third and fourth teams; maybe Gus should look to his laurels.

Over in Wales last week, as the combination of bad weather and even worse preparations ensured that all three of Ireland's Triple Crown matches ended up as ridiculous bowl-outs, there was plenty of time for discussion. And a topic which cropped up on a number of occasions was the vexed question of why on earth a history of Irish cricket has never been written.

One of the Hone family did write a book on Irish cricket, away back in the 1950s, if my memory serves me correctly, an opus which is very difficult to get nowadays. But in it, the author himself admits that what was started as a history of the summer game in this island rapidly became a book of largely personal reminiscence.

Individual clubs, like Civil Service and YMCA, have produced their own histories it is true. But worthy though these publications are interesting, they are obviously limited to the affairs of the club in question, like Old Belvedere's recently published Fifty Not Out, of which more anon. But there is as yet no definitive history, so a major gap exists in the story of Irish sport.

The obvious man for the job is Derek Scott, formerly honorary secretary of the Irish Cricket Union for some 25 years, whose collection of records is said to be staggeringly impressive. But the serene Scott steadfastly refuses to accede to the requests of his friends and colleagues, and in the course of our discussions in Wales last week dead-batted away all such suggestions.

Let's hope he'll change his mind some day. And there is a major sponsorship opportunity here for some captain of industry in the land of the Celtic Tiger. (Come to think of it, given the amount of corruption which surrounds us, wouldn't Celtic Cheetah be a more apt title?).

Anyway. The Old Belvedere booklet is a fine production, an excellent chronicle of the club's 50 years of existence. As the introduction says: In these pages, you will find a variety of reflections. The contributions are essentially, and intentionally, personal in tone, and we have deliberately avoided any attempt to compile a dry ball-by-ball history of the club. That admirable policy certainly works.

The Alan Murray Cup semi-finals will be played this evening, with Malahide and Dublin University at home to YMCA and Phoenix, respectively. Play starts at 6 p.m. in both matches.