The Sun DID always shine..

Given the current period of poor weather, it's tempting to believe that we are experiencing a uniquely wet cricket season.  One senior Crosser has posited that since 1996 the summers weather in the Edinburgh area have become decidedly wetter-more like Glasgow.  Is he right? 

The weather was always like this

The figures below suggest that -as with popular music-things really were better in the past...  Or are there other reasons why more fixtures were completed? Tougher men? Were cancelled games resheduled?

Number of HX Ist XI league fixtures completed (from Hugh K's stats):
note 1984!!

1975 11 out of 12
1976 10 out of 12
1977 13 out of 14
1978 13 out of 14
1979 12 out of 14
1980 12 out of 14
1981 12 out of 14
1982 10 out of 14
1983 12 out of 14
1984 18 out of 18
1985 13 out of 18
1986 16 out of 18
1987-14 out of 18
1988-12 out of 18
1989-16 out of 18
1990-16 out of 18
1991 17 out of 18
1992 16 out of 18
1993 16 out of 18
1994 14 out of 16 

1995 17 out of 18
1996 16 out of 18
1997 14 out of 18
1998 15 out of 18
1999-13 out of 18
2000-13 out of 18
2001 15 out of 18
2002 11 out of 18
2003 15 out of 18
2004 13 out of 18
2005 16 out of 18
2006 16 out of 18
2007 12 out of 18
2008  9  out of 18
2009 15 out of 18
2010 17 out of 19
2011 12 out of 19
2012  6  out of 10

KF on Scottish cricket (part 4 of a continuing series)

[The season may have finished but KF continues to do what he does best: smack balls over straight midwicket provide insightful commentary on the game].

For those of you who can't wait until the forthcoming Ashes commence for my insightful, innovative, thought-provoking and all round amazingly brilliant dissection of England's inevitable drubbing (the cricket media are doing the England football thing and declaring Ashes victory already, reality will bite by about lunch time on the first day of the First Test. Early prediction: panic call-up for Pietersen at 0-2), I'd like to take the opportunity of regurgitating a previous post from the soon to be if not already legendary 'KF on Scottish Cricket' series.

As I write this, I can hardly see the screen due to the sunlight beaming in through my window. The temperature outside is nearer 20 degrees, the breeze is light and, er, the cricket season has just finished.

Harking back to last December's scribble, here are some quotes.

"Come the end of August and into September, once the season has ended for most folk, its flip flop and barbecue time."

"I believe it's time to look at adjusting the season as I believe it starts and ends too early"

If cricket is played in the summer, and the season has just finished, and this is winter (humour me here please, there are no rules about internet posts having to be watertight), then I think we should begin playing Winter Cricket asap.

I'll leave it at that and will make sure I return to this subject every year at the same time. Now where did I put the suntan lotion (not in my effin cricket bag, that's for sure)?

......postcript by cje...

Lengthening the season is something I'd love to see happen - though those who share facilities with rugby/ football clubs would face difficulties.

Before Popey relates his stories of Yorshire cricket, I'll point out that the Sunday team I played for in Sheffield (Firvale CC) have their last fixture this season on Sept 19th.

From a groundsmanship point of view, one problem with playing into September would be the impact on post-season renovation of cricket squares (you need the new seed to germinate and establish itself before the temperature drops).