Scottish Cricket launches Hall of Fame

SCOTTISH Cricket’s Hall of Fame welcomed its first 12 inductees last night at a ceremony at the Barcelo Highland Hotel in Edinburgh. Those selected span almost the entire history of the organised sport in this country, from the early days when a Scotland XXII took on an England XI, to recent triumphs in the Intercontinenal Cup and ICC Trophy.

The dozen were chosen by a panel which included Scottish Cricket chief executive Roddy Smith and chairman Keith Oliver, historian and scorer Neil Leitch, journalist Norman Mair and former Scotland players George Goddard and Craig Wright. Players were picked from five different periods: pre-1909, 1909-39, 1946-70, 1971-90 and 1991 to the present.

A further two players will be inducted annually. It is envisaged that when Cricket Scotland has a permanent playing facility the Hall of Fame will become part of the pavilion. The 12 inducted last night were:

Leslie Balfour-Melville

(1854-1937)

The pre-eminent Scottish batsman of his generation, he first made an impact on the sport as a schoolboy in the mid-1860s and was still setting new records at the age of 55. The first president of the re-formed Scottish Cricket Union in 1905, he also excelled at several other sports: he was Scottish champion at tennis, billiards and the long jump, won golf’s amateur championship, and was also president of the Scottish Rugby Union.

Gregor MacGregor

(1869-1919)

Another Edinburgh man whose prowess was obvious from his teenage years, he was hailed as an outstanding wicketkeeper during his first days at Cambridge University. He played for England from 1890, and went on to become captain of Middlesex. His county commitments restricted his appearances for Scotland, though he did represent his country at rugby as well as cricket.

John Kerr (1885-1972)

The greatest opening bat in the Scottish game, he played in all of his country’s matches over an astonishing 25-year period from 1908. Also a pre-eminent figure in the domestic game, he still stands third on the list of highest run aggregates, with 21,558. His career was as rich in highlights as it was long, although the peak arguably came in the 1921 series against the Australians, when he scored 147, 15 and 60no.

James Aitchison (1920-94)

The only Scot besides Kerr to score a century against a full Test-playing side (South Africa), he set a national record for international appearances and for the highest run total at that level. A minister from Kilmarnock, he scored his highest international tally of 190 against Ireland in 1959, when partnered by the schoolboy Mike Denness.

Jimmy Allan (1932-2005)

A bowling partner of Magnus Magnusson’s at school, he made an immediate impact on going to Oxford, when his slow bowling bamboozled Len Hutton. Signing for Kent as a bowler, he quickly showed how useful he was as a batsman too.

Mike Denness (b. 1940)

Probably the most famous cricketer ever to come out of Scotland, he made his national debut at the age of 19 but then had to wait a decade before getting his first England cap. Chosen to succeed Ray Illingworth as captain, he led England with distinction and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975.

George Goddard (b. 1938)

One of the most influential players for the best part of two decades from the mid-1960s, he made 78 appearances for Scotland. The national captain when Scotland entered competitive cricket, he was awarded the MBE for services to the sport in 1982. He absented himself from the selection panel when his own inclusion in the Hall of Fame was being discussed.

Brian Hardie (b. 1950)

Playing 14 times for Scotland before joining Essex, he was a key member of the county team during its glorious resurgence after a long barren spell. An opening bat alongside Graham Gooch, he was also one of the best fielders in English cricket.

Iain Philip (b. 1958)

Born and brought up, like Hardie, in Stenhousemuir, he moved with his family to Australia when young. Returning for a summer in the mid-1980s, he showed such fine form that he was selected for the national team. He remained a vital member of it up to the 1999 World Cup.

Douglas Brown (b. 1968)

An able footballer and rugby player as well as cricketer, he made his Scotland debut in 1989 and joined Warwickshire three years later. He spent the rest of his cateer at Edgbaston, and represented both Scotland and England in one-day internationals.

Gavin Hamilton (b. 1974)

An all-rounder who represented Scotland in the 1999 World Cup, he played one Test for England the following year and so had to wait four years before becoming eligible to turn out for his native country again. He made an immediate impact on his return, playing a leading role in the Intercontinental Cup final. Hamilton captained Scotland in 2009 and 2010.

Craig Wright (b. 1974)

Scotland captain in 2004 when the Intercontinental Cup was won and in the ICC Trophy triumph of the following year, Wright went on to became the most-capped Scotland player in 2006. In recent years he has been performing an equally important role for the game off the field as Cricket Scotland’s performance development manager. Like Goddard, he was absent from the panel discussion which agreed to induct him into the Hall of Fame.