Cricket no laughing matter

More than 130 years after a riotous cricket match in Dundee was abandoned after a team of clown cricketers was attacked by a spectator, the city will stage a similar and hopefully more sedate version of the event on August 24.

On September 27, 1879, Dundee, not really accustomed to cricket, was treated to a game featuring a team of clowns from a travelling circus, who had promised to play in their outfits. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people turned up at Baxter Park, but as the huge crowd surged dangerously close to the wickets, a man took exception to the clowns' "grotesque appearance" and tried to hit two of them. The ensuing chaos caused the match to be called off.

This time, however, the organisers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a trouble-free event.

"We loved the idea that so many people in Dundee wanted to see a cricket match, when Dundee is not well known for its love of cricket," chairwoman Irene Shearer told the Courier. "We've been able to get Norwood and Dundee High and one of the teams will be wearing cricketing whites and the other will come in elements of clown fancy dress.

"However, as soon as they admitted they wanted 11 full clown outfits to play cricket, they were turned down by the fancy dress shops. Maybe somebody reading this will be able to help out."