THE CRICKET CHAMPIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 13

THE CRICKET CHAMPIONS.

Surrey have been declared tlie crickot champions for 1914. This decision is not in accordance with strict fact, but everyone will agree that tho title should go to the team wlio wero leading at tho time when tho European crisis arose. Tho Oval ground, it may be remembered, was claimed by the military authorities for the training of recruits, but whilst this had some effect it was chiefly in obedience to public opinion that tho last two matches with Sussex and Leicestershire wero abandoned. To be sure of the, championship Surrey had only to avert defeat in botn these games, for when the competition was declared at an end they held an advantage in tho percentage of runs of 4.4.0 over Middlesex, who had completed their programme. When the matter was considered by the M. 0.0. Committee Mr P. F. Warner gave an assurance that Middlesex raised no objection to the title of champion county being officially bestowed on Surrey. The condifions under which tho championship is decided are so loose and variable in their application to teams that Surrey can almost bo said to have actually won the titlo. A side may arrange as many or as few matches as they like. Middlesex, for instance, had only twenty fixtures on their programme, whilst Surrey had played twenty-six when 1 they brought their season to a premature close, and there would have been nothing to prevent the Oval Club cutting their list of matches short, say, at twenty-four, exoept tho moral obligation they had entored into with other clubs. One fears that tho brilliant feats of Surrey last summer have been forgotten in tho turmoil of strife, but bearing in mind the excellence of Middlesex, there ts no doubt that Surrey wero the champion side in fact as they aro in name.