NEW ACS GRANT SCHEME FOR AUTHORS AND RESEARCHERS by Douglas Miller

DateLine: 25th June 2007

Following the sale of the Association's premises in West Bridgford, members will know that we are holding capital funds well in excess of what is needed to support our ongoing activities. As a committee, we have a duty to do more than just sit on our pile of cash and watch it grow bigger. So how can we best use our assets for the benefit of the membership and to strengthen the Association.

Our thinking has been guided by the first object in our rules. This is: to promote and encourage research into the statistical and historical aspects of cricket throughout the world at all levels and to publish the findings. What better way could there be for deploying our resources than to provide financial assistance to those who are engaged in relevant research. And if, thereby, we are able to publish their findings, it will be to the benefit of the membership at large, whilst also reinforcing our reputation in the wider world of cricket scholarship.

The grant scheme that we are launching provides for up to four awards each year to members of the Association whose applications are deemed most deserving. A small sub-committee comprising Dennis Lambert, Eric Midwinter and Peter Wynne-Thomas will recommend to the committee which members' applications are most deserving of grants of up to 750 pounds. Details of the conditions attaching to the scheme appear below, and application forms can be obtained from the Secretary or a pdf version downloaded from our website. Members should note that applications for 2008 should be received by 30th November 2007.

The grants are principally aimed at those who plan to undertake new research into aspects of cricket statistics, cricket history or literature that will add to the knowledge and understanding of the game. The principal criterion in determining eligibility for a grant will be the anticipated interest in, and quality of, the proposed research. However, the committee will also take into account the costs that applicants expect to incur in the course of their work.

We are aware that the cricket enthusiasts who comprise the bulk of our membership have seldom sought reward for their writings, and ACS has never paid authors for books published under our imprint. Indeed, we have existed to enable publications that might not otherwise be financially viable to see the light of day. In consequence, many ACS authors may have been several hundred pounds out of pocket. While not providing financial remedies for past efforts, this grant scheme will provide a chance to rectify this situation for all prospective authors, whether they are interested in writing a book within one of our current series or embarking on an independent project. In the case of smaller scale pieces of research an appropriate outlet might be a learned article in the ACS journal The Cricket Statistician. I hope the sub-committee will be spoiled for choice when making its decisions later this year.

Terms and Conditions:
1. Applicants must be members of the ACS at the time of application and throughout the period until a decision on publication is made.

2. Applications for a grant must be received by The Secretary by 30th November for a grant for the following calendar year.

3. No liability will be accepted by the ACS for late receipt of any application.

4. The ACS will make up to four grants in any one calendar year but reserves the right not to make any grant in a particular year.

5. Each grant will be for a maximum of 750 pounds.

6. No applicant will be awarded more than one grant in a particular year.

7. The applicant agrees that the ACS will have the final decision on whether or not it publishes the finished work, and in what format, print run, print date, etc. any publication appears.

8. At most, 25 per cent of the agreed grant will be paid prior to submission of the final work for publication.

9. It is expected that the research will be completed and the work ready for publication within two years of the grant being awarded. Longer periods will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances.

10. It is expected that original research will be carried out as the result of a grant being awarded.

11. No current member of the ACS committee or grant sub-committee will be allowed to apply for a grant whilst holding office.