THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 4, 1989.
England Batsmen Should Be More Old-fashioned In Method
C. B. FRY SAYS
Old Trafford, July 24.
Rain in the night, but not much for Manchester. So we are in- specting at- 11.30. The turf is pretty sodden, but less so than on Saturday,
Duly at 11.30 the inspection occurs as advertised.
The result is that Harry Williams tells a policeman and the policeman tells us that the game will positively begin at 12.15.
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The first two overs by Hylton' and Martindale prove that the ground is quite fit for cricket. When a fast bow- ler such as Martindale, with his long run and vigorous swing, can fire down an accurate first over there is nothing much wrong.
20:
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Evidence of the good quality of the bowling is that with a dead wicket positively made for the strokes neither batsman has yet found an opportunity to hook.
Both bowlers are making the ball swerve considerably. This prevents the bausman from shaping in time for his forcing stroke. The damp air is heavy, or one should scientifically say viscous; and this is conducive to successful swerving with the new ball.
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It's Still Raining
Capt. Howard, Walter Hammond and Percy Perrin (L. to R.) returning after inspecting the wicket at Old Trafford on there is no
After fifteen minutes light for further reflection. The pale sun retires dissatisfied. Gloom super- venes and the field is emptied of flan- nel. We are having no luck.
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The umpires in mufti inspect the light from mid-field. Their gait and behaviour is pessimistic. Retreat of the light brigade. Nevertheless they reap- pear in uniform. We resume, and Mar- tindale delivers another good opening over. There is no gloom about these West Indian cricketers.
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Our total of runs is now 20; gather- ed by ones and twos. We still await a thump to the boundary.
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Fagg Was Late
second day.
accurate
has exploited. swerve plus length with persistent skill. I shall be surprised if he does not collect four or five more victims,
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right-handed exponent
Clarke relieves Martindale. He is a break, the top spinner, and the googly.
of the leg At once Hutton finds the boundary with a powerful hook. He does this stroke well; right leg well outside the line of the ball. I fancy the turf is too slow for Clarke's leg-break.
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Paynter's arrival is locally popular. In two twos he collects a couple of twos. He is going to liven up the scoring.
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on time Grant, right-hand One run later Hylton defeats Fagg. medium round the wicket, tried to re- The batsman shaped to play a defen- lieve Hylton and to bowl himself, but sive stroke, but was late with his blade delay with the screen forestalled him. and chopped the ball into his wicket. The luncheon score is 34; Hutton 13 Hylton has been bowling extremely and -Paynter nine. The slender sun- well; he has not given a run away, and shine has returned.
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Three For 34
the
We do not resume with eclat. Grant bowled a maiden, then Paynter mis- cuéd curiously; I fancy he hit the ground and the ball hit the edge of caught at the wicket off Clarke's "goog- his interrupted bat. Anyhow, he is well ly" a leg-break to him. A local dis- appointment.
Then Hutton, a long time at 13, first escapes from a "hook" catch off Grant to Constantine at forward short-leg, and repeats the stroke to Martindale behind the umpire. This time fatally. We have lost three wickets for 34 runs.
I herewith advise derns that on these dead wickets they our young mo- will not score runs till they learn the old-fashioned drive in front of the wicket.
And here is Hammond to show them. how. Nothing "apologetic counts; you must punch.
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This young Compton is a fine play- er, even a bit of a genius, but I wish he would obey the first law of motion in batting-hit well forward over the engaged foot. His short swing does not like the mud; he should lengthen it. I criticise an incipient Trumper. His back play is O.K.
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·ARMY- SPORTLIGHT
¿By "SQUADDY”)
WITH the holding of their Annual Gaia on Wednesday, the Depart- mental Corps brought their swimming season to an official end. Many more friendly water polo games and com- petitive events will take place before the end of the summer although they will be on a friendly basis.
By winning the 150 yards Medley Relay and 300 yards Free Style Relay, the Hong Kong Signal Company made a clean sweep of ail events except the diving.
Although the 150 yards Medley was such a short distance, the Signals team, composed of Dignan, Bedford and Willis succeeded in ou-distancing their nearest rivals, 27 Company, R.A.M.C. by no less than eleven seconds.
The strongest combination for this event was considered to be the R.A.0.C. trio, and Pitt was expected to give chem a good lead in the initial two engths on the backstroke. However, Willis of the Signals confounded the critics by romping home several yards ahead of the field and sending Bedford off on, the breast stroke with a hand- some lead.
With Bedford further adding to the lead it was only a matter of by how much the Signals would win as their last man Dignan is probably the fast- est swimmer over two lengths in the Army at present out here. The official time was 1 minute, 47-1/5 secs. quite good time in fresh water.
ER
ALL the diving took place from the three-motre board and was of quite a high order. Hong Kong Signal Com- pany were the first to show their prowess and more by all round steadi- ness than individual brilliance ac- cumulated a total of 48 points. The Service Corps took to the board, and again gave a steady display, without anyone appearing brilliant, to amass 46 points.
The favourites, 27 Company, R.A.M.C., gave a display that, although not up to quite their usual standard, included some good dives by Nicholls. Donald again excelled with the "jack- and MacDonald, their two aces. Mac-
knife" and Nicholls gave a fine ex- hibition of a "swallow" dive,
The surprise packet of the evening came when the Ordnance Corps, little fancied in this event, were adjudged to have tied for first place with the Medicals with a total of 61 points.
The referee Lieut. C.M.M. Man, of the Middlesex, ruled that the two sides should have one dive each per man to and once more the sides tied with 21 decide the winners. This was duly done points each. However, at the third time of asking, this time with a running dive, the Medicals were announced to be the winners by 24 points to 21.
Now look at Walter Hammond. He stands up tall; his poise is ever into his stroke; and. he has found the rails three times in two overs on a dull day. Walter is forcibly old-fashioned. Hence up goes the 50 at 2.45. And down | Coughlan, and another. .comes some more rain. These inter- ruptions are a nuisance.
The visitors' team was composed of MacDonald, Nicholls and Sweetland, whilst the Ordnance turned out Pitt,
(It is regretted that owing to some error at the other end, the portion of
the article dealing with the remainder A
of England's innings was not despatch-
S was generally expected, Signals' ran away with the 300 yards Re-
ed. For reference: Hammond 22, Complay, no other side ever being within ton. Hardstaff 76, Wood 26 and Wright 1, made up England's total of 164 for 7 dec-Sports Ed.) ·
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striking distance of the winners. The second team in this event were though weakened,
naged to Who,
to get the better of the Medi- Now, from what Bowes, Copson and
cals and Service Corps. The winners' Wright can do, we shall be able to ap-whilst the Ordnance time was 3 min. time was 3 minutes 21-2/5 seconds, praise our own hatting perfomance.
The first few overs do not cast much.
utes 87-3/5 seconds. obloquy on the wicket." Grant and Stollmeyer seem comfortable.
Grant is away from the mark with
superb
A of the evening, Bala, to Water volt this last event match between the Champions and the Rest. The Champions this far were the Royal Army Service Corps run- the Hong Kong Signal Company, with ners up, followed by the Ordnance and the_R'A M:C.
four fine cuts, and ddare for Bowes: but Grant plants him for two powerful off-drives; one, a Bixer. The West In dian captain is a batsman of class.
Goddard, however defeats the for ward feeling of Stollmeyer caught and bowled. One for 25 quick runs.
Grant continued to show what can be done by driving. He is planting Fielding an exceptionally fine 'side Goddard for sixer after aizer. He does the Signals had no difficulty in defeat- not seem any better than this Goddarding their opponents by the heavy mar- stroke the on drive. Somo of the short mid-on's will have to be moved.
SASKATCOPYRIGHTY POSITION AT CLOSE OF PLAY:
ENGLANDER 164 (for 7.dec.) WEST INDIES 85 (for 8.
gin of seven goals to one. Dignan notched four of the goals, whilst Mc Cann played a cunning game on the left wing to score the other three, Richards of R.A.B.C was responsible for the Resta. Aingis you!