First class status not retrospective

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_in_first-class_cricket_statistics

First-class cricket was formally defined by the then Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC) in May 1947 as a match of three or more days duration between two sides of eleven players officially adjudged first-class; the governing body in each country to decide the status of teams.

Significantly, it was stated that the definition does not have retrospective effect.

The absence of any ruling about matches played before 1947 (or before 1895 in Great Britain) has caused problems for cricket historians and especially statisticians. Matches that meet the official definitions, assuming they featured teams of the necessary high standard, have been recorded since 1697. It was inevitable that historians and statisticians would seek to apply first-class status retrospectively, in contravention of the ICC and MCC directives.

The position is that each statistician must compile his own list based on his personal opinions. As a result, significant differences may be observed in published statistical records with particular impact on the career records of W G Grace, Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe. At club level, there are differences in the perceived status of certain matches played by Gloucestershire CCC before 1870 and by Somerset CCC in 1879 and 1881. However, it should be noted that the number of differences is relatively small in terms of the sport's overall statistics.

One of the problems is that statisticians have tended not to publish their match lists with their findings.

In the context of pre-definition matches, first-class cricket is essentially a statistical concept and not a historical one.

South Africa's matches against rebel tour teams were retrospectively stripped of their FC status by the South African cricket governing body after 1994. Not sure if they were ever considered FC by the ICC - and if so, whether they amended their statistics afterwards. Frankly I see no reason for these matches not to be considered FC, as they met the same criteria as, say, interprovincial games played in South Africa at the time.

The Dababhai Trophy & Howa Bowl matches played in South Africa during the 70s & 80s were given first class status retrospectively. They were the parallel competitions to the Currie Cup.

Natal v Transvaal 1986/87 Howa Bowl

Transvaal v Natal, 1974/75 Dababhai Tphy
Rohan Kanhai played in this game as well as four others that season. A year ago Cricinfo hadn't added them to his stats but I notice they are added now. CricketArchive have included them for a while.

Some of the stars of those games were Lefty adams and Vince Barnes.