M Nicholas: Lord's Enters Brave New World With Old Charmer In The Chair (16 Dec 1996)

16 December 1996

Lord`s enters brave new world with old charmer in the chair

By Mark Nicholas

remembers Peter Sainsbury, that Hampshire hero of nearly 40 years, "and I said: `Sure skipper, there`s a bit in it for us bowlers, might well be worth giving it a go`.

"And blow me down he leapt out of his seat, clapped his hands and called the boys in. I leapt out of my seat too, screaming: `Not now skipper, I didn`t mean now, I meant around teatime`. No-one could believe it, he had just given the game back to the enemy, the lads were hopping. I`ve no idea why we worried. Gloucester, I think it was, were more shocked than us. we won with an over to spare and he rushed to me with profuse thanks for the advice." Typical.

Eccentric gambler, extravagant entertainer, electric motivator, extra special friend. Eton, the Navy, Hampshire and the City: Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie - `McCrackers` to his mates - is the new MCC president.

He suggests his promotion is a terrible risk "because of the element of irresponsibility in my life". Not so, because beneath the outrageous front and the drop-down-dead charm is a crafty cookie with an eye for the main chance and the deepest imaginable love of the game and its people. At a time when MCC are rethinking and redeveloping, Ingleby-Mackenzie is just the intoxicating character who could pull it all off without so much as a whimper in revolt.

He did as much with that championship, nicked it with a team that confident Yorkshire and cocky London misread as jazzhats. Which was the sting, because Ingleby`s bravado belied a nononsense bunch of tough-as-old-boot cricketers who had no illusions of grandeur.

In his seven years at the helm (1958-65) Hampshire finished third, sixth, 12th, first, 10th twice and 12th. The Championship in 1961 was no fluke but it kidded people because he made it such fun. Ten matches were won from declarations.

They were a good team who achieved beyond expectations and did so with an envied spirit which came from the glow given by their leader. "Oh yes, we had a terrific spirit," said Ingleby on the BBC Sports Review of that glorious year. "Gin spirit."

He could bat too - "very talented but not very disciplined" recalls Jimmy Gray, who opened the batting with Roy Marshall. "Tended towards the mid-wicket area but he was a lovely, lovely timer of the ball. He won us a game from a hopeless position on a sporty pitch on the Isle of Wight - so hopeless that we had packed our bags and booked the early boat back.

"As it was, we stayed to cheer him in. The innings typified the man, that carefree approach and yet the grit and the loyalty to his cause and his team. It was a great loss to the game when he retired. In his new role, perhaps we`ll get some of him back."

Which is an interesting point on the day when the new president faces his first proper test. At Lord`s this afternoon the members gather to debate plans for the controversially futuristic and expensive new media centre. The dissenters are bound to rage and the old charmer in the chair will need to be sharp.

"I think it is a spectacular building and an indication of MCC`s intent to embrace modernism," says Ingleby-Mackenzie. "It should not be viewed in isolation but thought of in harness with the new grandstand as fresh, exciting improvements to the grand old ground. I well remember the initial nervousness at the design of the Mound Stand. Now though, I think it has universal approval and admiration."

He will be nervous today and surprisingly admits to having been nervous in the two committee meetings he has chaired so far. "Being face-to-face with so many experts in their field is a challenge in itself. We have a high quality team and I hope to be able to extract their thoughts for the benefit of a great club."

So even with their reduced role in the affairs of world cricket, does Ingleby still see MCC as a great club?

"Absolutely, the greatest private club of them all. I would suggest that it may never have been more alive or in better shape than it is now. MCC represent the spirit and the ethos of cricket. We do an enormous amount for grass-roots and are exploring the possibility of taking our contribution the whole way to the top level by building a National Academy."

He has strong personal views on the state of English cricket and is concerned about the spectator receiving value for money. "So much of the variety has gone and so much of the instinct to think positively. The tempo of the game needs increasing. It`s no good playing four-day cricket if the game`s initiatives are not then taken.

"I also think it has become a less natural game than it was with too much dependence on slide-rule tactics and too much reference to training schedules. It is a simple and fun game of bowl straight and hit straight and too often we forget that."

Could such romancing by the original old-time amateur work in today`s more cynical era of professional sport?

"Of course. I disagree that commercialism and money has played a part in reducing enjoyment, rather regimentation and lack of communication by the people in charge has done that.

Taylor has done it for Australia but Michael Atherton has not managed it yet for England. As a batsman and fielder Atherton is supreme but he must communicate better - frankly this `grumpy` business is just plain bad manners - and he needs to let more people know that he`s having a good time, even if he isn`t!"

The attitudes of Ingleby came from the adventures of his mentor Bryan Valentine, the Kent and England cricketer, "who was all-out attack 24 hours a day," and from the wisdom of his guiding light at Hampshire, Desmond Eagar, who "broke me in gently. I hadn`t captained at Eton and went straight from school to be a midshipman on submarines." Submarines? Why submarines? "The danger money was good and gin and tonics were tuppence."

His father, the Admiral, a marvellous sportsman himself, left the boy just #100, so the rich kid rumours were wide of the mark. Ingleby survived as an amateur with "lots of freeloading, and skilful juggling of elastic expenses from Hampshire." His father died in the spring of 1961 so he missed seeing his son steal the Championship. "It was for him really and everyone knew that."

Ingleby-Mackenzie is 63 now and winding down from the schools insurance business that he got into on Valentine`s insistence. He made it to chairman of the Holmwoods Company in what is these days called an ambassadorial role, leaving him time to be involved with cricket and "so many other things" - like racing. His syndicated jump horses are with trainer and great pal Nicky Henderson - "an outstandingly bad tipster" - and the syndicated flat horses with Michael Stoute - "even worse".

"I love it, love the people, love the life, love the gambling."

His favourite story came from a night of gambling, a poker school of three with Leo Harrison and Hampshire cricket`s greatest friend, John Arlott, during a county match in Bournemouth. "We played hard poker for hour upon hour and, suddenly tired and furious after an expensive and failed bluff, John got up from his chair and wandered to the window to stretch. `By God` he said in his magnificent voice, `that is a beautiful moon.` And I said `It`s not the moon, you twit, Arlott, it`s the sun!` "

IF Ingleby-Mackenzie brings his humour to modern cricket, which takes itself so seriously, he will bring it nothing but good. He must first negotiate this afternoon`s gathering before the joy of welcoming the Australians next summer. Soon, of course, he must tackle the touchy topic of women members of MCC.

"We`re on the brink of the 21st century and if ladies can be Prime Ministers and run huge plcs, then the time is right for a review of the club`s position on their membership. We will come up with a resolution and then the members must decide."

You can guess where the Mackenzie vote will go, and by the time the ballot papers are crossed the president`s bright, refreshing enthusiasm and considerable style might well have convinced the members too.

"He brought his character into the dressing room at Hampshire," adds Jimmy Gray, "and from it came the atmosphere in which people from all walks of life, from gatemen to great players, could thrive."

Not a bad epitaph for Mr `McCrackers`. For sure, MCC are lucky to have him. They should see as much this afternoon.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)