Strathmore Cricket Union: the first 90 years a history 1928-2018

77 On a sadder note, Dundee High School FP, clearly suffering a temporary dip in their fortunes, were compelled to withdraw their 2nd XI from the Second Division, and we notice again the curiously half-hearted attitude towards playing Union Representative games against the likes of Grange in Edinburgh, for example, which would be a “rather costly affair”. This pusillanimous attitude must be seen in the context of the undeniable rise in the standard of living in the 1950s, as evidenced by the fact that televisions were now owned or rented by about 70% of the population, and that quite a few motor cars had made their self-conscious appearance outside that new status symbol of working class life - “the council house”, sometimes compelling the owner to stress and advertise his prosperity by spending all Saturday and Sunday afternoon under its bonnet to impress the neighbours… when he could have been at a cricket match. England lost the Ashes in 1958/59 in a nasty series with complaints about the bowling action of several Australian bowlers, Ian Meckiff in particular, but 1959 saw far better weather for cricket than had been the case in recent years. For the first time since 1936, the winners of the Union were Arbroath. They were to a very large extent indebted to their professional Doug Greasley for he had taken 100 wickets at the cost of 7.51 runs per wicket. Funnily enough this was not enough to see him top the Bowling Averages – that particular honour going to J McCraw of Perthshire XI – but he was second. Greasley was also second in the Batting Averages with 52.18, only a whisker behind Nigel Hazel of Strathmore. Greasley, who had of course also been professional at Brechin is generally regarded as a credit to the game for his gentlemanly approach, and his encouragement of youngsters. He came from Northamptonshire, and was one of the surprisingly numerous cricketers who batted right handed, yet was a left arm bowler. His batting was a joy to watch with many classical shots, and as a bowler he could use both seam and swing. Arbroathwon the Championshipby some distance over Brechin, andMeigle XI were similarly untroubled in the 2nd XI Championship, a competition to which Coupar Angus would be admitted in 1960. Strathmore XI had a poor season, finishing second bottom but they did have the consolation of winning the Two Counties Cup. The Three Counties Cup final was a very disappointing and one-sided game. For some reason, although Brechin were in the final, the game was allowed