But perhaps the most cynical stretching of the laws took place in the much quieter surroundings of Worcester, when Brian Rose, captaining Somerset, declared after one over of a Benson & Hedges Cup zonal match.
Somerset travelled to Worcester knowing that under the rules of the competition they would qualify for the quarter-finals as long as they did not lose by a heavy margin. Even if they won, Worcester (and Glamorgan, who were seemingly assured of an easy win over Minor Counties South) could only finish on the same number of points as Somerset, and needed a conclusive victory to overtake them by virtue of a superior strike-rate, which was used to separate teams on level points. By declaring their innings after one over, Somerset would lose to Worcester - but that didn't matter as it would mean that they could not be overtaken on strike-rate.
Rose realised that what he was planning was likely to cause an outcry, and checked with Donald Carr, the secretary of the Test & County Cricket Board (the forerunner of the England & Wales Cricket Board), whether it was legal. The reply came that while it was within the laws as they stood, it was certainly against their spirit and that there would be "repercussions".
On May 23, the day originally scheduled for the game, there was no play possible, and so the teams reassembled the following morning when, although it was grey and damp, the match started on time.
Rose won the toss, batted, and after one over - a maiden bowled to him by from Vanburn Holder, which included a no-ball - he declared at 1 for 0. Worcestershire took 10 balls - with Glenn Turner scoring two singles - to win a game which lasted 18 minutes, including the statutory 10-minute break between innings.
The hundred or so spectators inside New Road were incensed, while those still arriving were understandably bemused when told the game was over. Mike Vockins, Worcestershire's secretary, refunded all the gate-money and slammed Rose's actions as "an absolute disgrace". Somerset packed their kit, and within 15 minutes of leaving the field were heading home.
Rose was unrepentant. "I had no alternative," he said. "The rules are laid down in black and white. If anybody wishes to complain, they should do it to the people who make them."
That rather simplistic disregard for the paying public cut no ice, and the outcry was almost universally damning. Rose was the scapegoat, even though it was widely acknowledged that he had flagged his intentions with a number of people within the club. Somerset's own committee immediately backed him, although making clear their displeasure at his actions. They also offered to replay the match, but the crowded schedule made that impractical.
The TCCB responded by calling an emergency meeting of its disciplinary committee. Eight days after the match, that committee voted to expel Somerset from the competition by 17 votes to one. Even Somerset supported the motion, with Derbyshire, for reasons known only to themselves, the sole opposition to it.
