GIRLS should be selected to play with boys in first-XI sides at school if they are competent enough to compete with them, John Spencer, the master in charge of cricket at Brighton College, says. Its policy has been criticised by Robin Marlar, the incoming president of MCC, who feels that for physical, medical and chivalrous reasons there should be no mixed sides at the age of 17 or 18.

Marlar, a 74-year-old Old Harrovian who has long been renowned for his forthright views, was chosen by Tom Graveney to succeed him as president of MCC. The club, which once governed the game, owns Lord’s and still has control of the Laws of the Game in addition to furthering the Spirit of Cricket. Marlar has one year in office to bring his influence to bear. “There is a terrific difference between social and competitive cricket,” he said.

“Fred Trueman knocked me around when I batted against him at the age of 17. I do not see many men playing in women’s league football.”

Spencer, who, like Marlar, is a former Sussex player, disagrees. “Robin’s comments are outdated because there are laws of sex discrimination in place now,” he said. “Girls are attracted to Brighton College because they know they will be given a fair deal. I have tried to be careful over selection when the opposition have had a very fast bowler, like Dulwich College did this summer. But the school believes in equal opportunities and I know of one or two other schools who include girls in their first XIs.

“Any bowler with a ball in his hands is potentially going to cause as much damage to boys as to girls. I remember that when Clare Connor (the England captain) was here, her ambition at the age of 10 was to play for the first XI and I told her she would if she was good enough. When she played against Christ’s Hospital, she was hit in the ribs and I asked her whether she wanted to go off the field. ‘You must be joking, ’ she told me, ‘boys would want to but not girls.’ ”

Next year, Brighton are likely to field two girls in Sarah Taylor, 16, and Holly Colvin, 16, who has already represented England. They have another promising player in Stephanie Masters, who played for their under-14 team last term. “When Clare was chosen to play against Australia, she benefited from having played against fast bowlers at school,” Spencer said. “I can understand Robin’s viewpoint because preserving tradition is not that bad a thing, but cricket is equally dangerous for a boy or a girl.”

MCC does not field sides of mixed sex, a standpoint that Marlar says is supported by Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, the former England women’s captain who sits on the MCC committee. “I talked to her before I raised this issue,” he said. “My attitude is not blimpish — it is called chivalry. The male of the species is taught not to knock the female about. A young man is letting go a potentially lethal missile at a young lady.

“I was told by a doctor who is a friend of mine that a woman who becomes bruised around the chest might end up with breast cancer. Chest plates could provide protection but this is still not a good thing.

“There has to be a decision, perhaps emanating from the Government, that there are no mixed sides. Any suggestion that I am anti-women’s cricket is totally wrong — I want to see more female playing members of MCC. Why not have separate development for them? It is axiomatic that many schools believe in this and Brighton are out of order.”

Taylor and Colvin said that they had come to Brighton because of the opportunities they would receive. “I knew I would be given a chance,” Colvin said. “The opportunity to play with boys has developed my game more quickly and given me confidence as I have gone on to play for England. I am now practising with boys in the Sussex Academy and this is improving my technique all the time. I have been too busy on my geography project today to think too much about what Marlar has to say.”

Taylor said that she, too, wanted to play for England. “My Mum’s not impressed with Marlar’s comments,” she added. “I have been able to cope with pace bowling. Bring them on — I am not scared yet.”

GREAT RANTS OF SNARLER MARLAR

1959: does not spare himself from criticism.“It was a mistake to have one final year as Sussex captain. We had a terrible season and I should have stuck to my guns.”

1974-75: as cricket correspondent of The Sunday Times, declares that Mike Denness, the captain of England in Australia, should be sent home as his batting and the performances of his side were not good enough.

1976: now takes the side of Denness — whom he said had continued to treat him without resentment — when the former England captain was controversially sacked by Kent after winning two trophies in 1976.

1986: strongly attacks Clive Lloyd, who had been applauded all the way to the wicket playing for Lancashire in the NatWest final on his last appearance at Lord’s, for his advocacy of short-pitched bowling when captain of West Indies.

2004: criticises Rupert Webb for missing a catch behind the stumps off his bowling that he says cost Sussex the county championship in 1953. Webb, who became an actor, is not amused.