Comrie Cricket Club

By Jack Elliot M.B.E

The year 1930 has been described as the Club’s ‘ANNUS MIRABILIS’.  During that summer Sir Robert Dundas hit 113 not out against the local rivals, Dunira, in an innings punctuated by fine cover drives and his favourite late cut through slips.  What has not been recorded was the consistent wicket-keeping of Alistair Mackay who at the end of each over during the match picked up an array of feathers and transferred them to the opposite end to form a type of “magical” semi-circle.  That this “ploy” had an adverse effect on some of the Dunira batsmen is an understatement especially when Joe Smith, Perthshire County and Dunira wicket-keeper, was aware of Alistair, with his nose over the stumps and the feathers in close attendance.

Alec (Dreamy) McArthur belied his nick-name when against R.H. Burdon-Cooper’s XI he captured 6 wickets with 6 consecutive balls – clean bowled 4 batsmen and had another 2 lbw in the one tremendous over.

Cricket statistics fascinate many followers of the game but probably no location other than the Laggan Park, Comrie, has produced the fact that visitors from Oban in 1955 scored at a rate of 0.2 runs per mile.  On the same occasion the opening ball disposed of the first Oban batsman after his journey of some 100 miles by coach!

Many cricket grounds in Scotland have to withstand the early evening onslaught of the “midgy”.  The Laggan Park is no exception but has on occasion had a rival invasion – of bees!  To the spectators on the fences was presented the sight of fieldsmen and batsmen suddenly falling prostrate until the Tomperran sightscreen was no longer white.  There was another occasion – away from home, at Pitlochry – when such insect intrusion had an even more dramatic outcome.  “Father” Johnston was bowling and was hit mid-wicket where his son, “Bo” Johnston, was fielding.  The latter with his usual safe hands was about to take the soaring catch, when the hands clasped not the ball but the back of the neck and an anguished noise was uttered.  The fact that a wasp had entered the fray on the side of Pitlochry did little to placate the anger of Johnston Snr., as the ball fell to the ground.


In 1939 the Rover Moot was held at Monzie Castle and on one of the Saturdays the Comrie Club entertained a “Rest of the World XI”.  When looking at a photograph taken on that day the happiness on the faces hardly reflects the unhappiness shortly to follow – the outbreak of the Second World War and the participation in that struggle by many of the players present, perhaps even on opposite sides.

Many well-known Cricketers have graced the Laggan turf, with Wilfred Rhodes perhaps the most distinguished visitor.  He came – late in life – as professional to Perthshire Cricket Club and a glorious record of Test and County bowling and batting behind him.  However, reputation on that occasion meant little to the then youthful Harper from Cupar who proceeded to spray shots off Rhodes all over the ground.  With all the guile at his disposal, Rhodes resorted to the old-fashioned “donkey drop” and the belligerent batsman was on his way to the pavilion!

To this day, the “Chinese cut” is acclaimed by commentators and reporters alike but Comrie had a real exponent of what is usually reported still with some suspicion – possibly even as a fluke.  “Johnny” Robertson – no mean bowler – so often played the ball between his feet to the safety of the fine-leg boundary that to Comrie spectators it became the “Johnny” Robertson shot.

It is hoped these few “Extras” will have added to the total enjoyment of the many who already have applauded the long innings of the Dundas partnership within the Comrie Cricket Club.