Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians
Encyclopedia
The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (ACS) was founded in England in 1973 for the purpose of researching and collating information about the history and statistics of cricket
. Originally called the Association of Cricket Statisticians, the words "and Historians" were added in 1993 but it has continued to use the initialism ACS.
ACS headquarters were formerly in Nottingham, opposite Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
, but since 2006 it has been based in Cardiff at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground.
Although constituted in England, the ACS has a worldwide membership and is open to anyone with a relevant interest. The membership in 2010 numbered about 1,300.
by the then Imperial Cricket Conference
(ICC) in May 1947, and particularly given ICC's statement that the definition does not have retrospective effect, a number of cricket statisticians became interested in developing an agreed list of matches played before 1947 from which to compile accurate first-class records.
Roy Webber
published his Playfair Book of Cricket Records in 1951 and stated his view that first-class cricket records (i.e., for statistical purposes) should not include matches played before 1864. In this first edition, Webber accepted the records used by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
, including those that summarised the career of W G Grace. In his second edition (1961), Webber challenged many existing views about match status and produced, inter alia, an alternative career record for Grace that did not include some of the matches Wisden recognises as first-class.
There was some support among cricket statisticians, including Bill Frindall
, for Webber's basic arguments but there were (and remain) differences of opinion about his commencement date and about the details of his recommended matchlist. The controversial cricket historian Rowland Bowen
wrote a lengthy critique of Webber's sources in 1961. Bowen then started Cricket Quarterly (1963-70), devoted to cricket statistics, which included among its contributors some of the original ACS members.
The ACS itself was founded by Robert Brooke and Dennis Lambert, two of Bowen's contributors, by means of advertisements in the October 1972 issues of The Cricketer and Playfair Cricket Monthly. These attracted a nucleus of some 50 members who formed the association in 1973.
and the Second XI Championship
in England. The bulk of its research concerns those matches that are officially or unofficially recognised as first-class
or List A limited overs cricket. The findings have been published in-house in various guides (see list below) and in the Association's quarterly journal The Cricket Statistician. The Who's Who of First Class Cricketers is one of the few commercially published works.
Like Webber and Frindall, the ACS has no official position in terms of deciding the status of cricket matches. Any classification it publishes is merely its own opinion, as is the case with all other cricket writers. However, in 2006, the ICC asked the ACS to provide a comprehensive List A limited overs matchlist (i.e., since the commencement of List A matches in 1963) and this has since been used as a basis for the official records.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Originally called the Association of Cricket Statisticians, the words "and Historians" were added in 1993 but it has continued to use the initialism ACS.
ACS headquarters were formerly in Nottingham, opposite Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
, but since 2006 it has been based in Cardiff at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground.
Although constituted in England, the ACS has a worldwide membership and is open to anyone with a relevant interest. The membership in 2010 numbered about 1,300.
Origin
Following the formal definition of first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
by the then Imperial Cricket Conference
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC) in May 1947, and particularly given ICC's statement that the definition does not have retrospective effect, a number of cricket statisticians became interested in developing an agreed list of matches played before 1947 from which to compile accurate first-class records.
Roy Webber
Roy Webber
Roy Webber was a British cricket scorer and statistician. After World War II, in which he served with the Royal Air Force, he decided to turn what had been his hobby into his profession. He had the necessary proficiency with figures, having previously been an accountant. He was the scorer for BBC...
published his Playfair Book of Cricket Records in 1951 and stated his view that first-class cricket records (i.e., for statistical purposes) should not include matches played before 1864. In this first edition, Webber accepted the records used by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
, including those that summarised the career of W G Grace. In his second edition (1961), Webber challenged many existing views about match status and produced, inter alia, an alternative career record for Grace that did not include some of the matches Wisden recognises as first-class.
There was some support among cricket statisticians, including Bill Frindall
Bill Frindall
William Howard Frindall, MBE was an English cricket scorer and statistician. He was familiar to cricket followers from his appearances on the BBC Radio 4 programme Test Match Special, nicknamed the Bearded Wonder by Brian Johnston for his ability to research the most obscure cricketing facts in...
, for Webber's basic arguments but there were (and remain) differences of opinion about his commencement date and about the details of his recommended matchlist. The controversial cricket historian Rowland Bowen
Rowland Bowen
Major Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
wrote a lengthy critique of Webber's sources in 1961. Bowen then started Cricket Quarterly (1963-70), devoted to cricket statistics, which included among its contributors some of the original ACS members.
The ACS itself was founded by Robert Brooke and Dennis Lambert, two of Bowen's contributors, by means of advertisements in the October 1972 issues of The Cricketer and Playfair Cricket Monthly. These attracted a nucleus of some 50 members who formed the association in 1973.
Scope of activities
The ACS has sought to compile details of all known major cricket matches and has widened its scope to include details of other competitions such as the Minor Counties Cricket ChampionshipMinor Counties Cricket Championship
The Minor Counties Cricket Championship is a season-long competition in England that is contested by those county cricket clubs that do not have first-class status...
and the Second XI Championship
Second XI Championship
The Second XI Championship is a season-long cricket competition in England that is competed for by the reserve teams of those county cricket clubs that have first-class status...
in England. The bulk of its research concerns those matches that are officially or unofficially recognised as first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
or List A limited overs cricket. The findings have been published in-house in various guides (see list below) and in the Association's quarterly journal The Cricket Statistician. The Who's Who of First Class Cricketers is one of the few commercially published works.
Like Webber and Frindall, the ACS has no official position in terms of deciding the status of cricket matches. Any classification it publishes is merely its own opinion, as is the case with all other cricket writers. However, in 2006, the ICC asked the ACS to provide a comprehensive List A limited overs matchlist (i.e., since the commencement of List A matches in 1963) and this has since been used as a basis for the official records.
ACS publications
The ACS publishes its findings in-house, typically in the form of paperback booklets of about 60 pages. Many booklets are issued in series format. The publications include the following:- "The Cricket Statistician" (a quarterly journal for members)
- "A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles 1707–1863" (1985)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles" (1982, 2nd edition)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in Australia" (1983, 2nd edition)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in India" (1986)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in New Zealand" (1981)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in North and South America" (1987)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in Pakistan" (1989)
- "A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in South Africa" (1981)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in Sri Lanka" (1987)
- "A Guide to First-Class Cricket Matches Played in the West Indies" (1984)
- "The ACS International Cricket Yearbook" (annual first issued in 1986)
- "The ACS Second Eleven Annual" (annual first issued in 1985)
- "The ACS Famous Cricketers Series" (complete playing records, match by match, of 100 notable cricketers)
- "The Minor Counties Championship" (an ongoing series of the complete scorecards)
See also
- Variations in first-class cricket statisticsVariations in first-class cricket statisticsVariations in first-class cricket statistics have come about because there is no official view of the status of cricket matches played before 1947. As a result, historians and statisticians have compiled differing lists of matches that they recognise as first-class. The problem is significant where...
- Variations in Test Cricket StatisticsVariations in Test cricket statisticsThere has been widespread continuity in the definition of Test cricket since the 1880s and thus the statistics have involved little contention unlike the many variations in first-class cricket statistics. There have nonetheless been a few points of interest....
External links
- Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians website
- Richard StreetonRichard StreetonRichard Marsh Streeton was an English sports journalist, concentrating on cricket.Streeton's father was a manager for HMV and the BBC. Streeton was educated at King's School, Canterbury, before leading a distinguished naval career...
, 21 years of the ACS, ACS, 1994