That certainly isn’t cricket: MCC ‘chumocracy’ accused of election dirty tricks
SUCH is the game’s sense of decency and fair play that the phrase ‘it’s just not cricket’ is accepted the world over as a description of how not to conduct oneself.
Which makes claims of dirty tricks at the sport’s home all the more surprising. But senior figures at the MCC, the custodian of the game’s laws since 1788, have been accused of undermining a candidate’s attempt to be elected on to the club’s committee because his “face didn’t fit”.
Chris Waterman, a retired education authority executive, claims that in last week’s election Gerald Corbett, the MCC chairman, issued guidance about the ideal candidate, emphasising a cricket or business background.
He claims this implied he was not suitable, accusing the MCC of perpetuating a “geriatric chumocracy” of retired cricketers and older members.
“When the ballot papers went out, the chairman, whose reappointment I had opposed, rewrote his letter of guidance,” he said. “Instead of seven general requirements, there were just two: playing experience as a cricketer, which I don’t have, and senior business experience, which I don’t have.
“In a video he added that ‘good collegiate behaviour’ should also be a requirement. This was widely interpreted as ‘don’t vote for Chris Waterman’.”
In Thursday’s result, the 72-year-old came bottom of the ballot of six candidates for the four new committee members. Angus Fraser, the former England cricketer, was top with 5,690 votes, followed by Russell Quentin
Cake, a former first-class cricketer; Garri Jones, a City executive; and Judge Nigel Peters QC. All four had served on the committee.
Mr Waterman, who secured 1,945 votes, said: “The committee is packed with ex-cricketers – Gatting, Brearley, Fleming, Fraser etc who have done nothing else. What the club in fact needs is more diversity.”
‘‘I’m pale, male and stale, like most of the committee members, but I would have at least brought a slightly different perspective.”
Writing on a private MCC forum, some members said they were steered against Mr Waterman. One wrote: “My impression was that I was being guided to vote for Gus [Angus Fraser].”
In an email to Mr Waterman, Mr Corbett said: “It’s not unreasonable for me to highlight the skills and experience I and the committee feel we need.’’
The club, which is investigating, said: “The matter is being considered by the Club, in accordance with its rules.”