THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1951.
It Is Easy Enough To Ruin Promising Young Cricketers
Says BILL EDRICH
If we are to judge' by the headlines in recent days we have sud- denly found ourselves with a complete spate of new England cric- keters. Fast bowlers by the dozen have suddenly popped up! That is fine. Let's have all the publicity we can for the brighter prospects of our great game. But let's, for goodness sake, keep our feet on the ground and our minds quite clear.
Nor am I blaming
No, I am not criticising the boys who write the headlines, the writers. We have a good crop of youngsters on the way up. I told you about them fast season time after time. But there is a pretty wide gap between (1 cricketer being "likely" or "promising" or "potentially great" and the same hoy being ready for Test cricket.
I am not dead against the idea of playing a youngster simply because he happens to be a youngster. My judgment is directed towards his ability. If the And is really good—not merely potentially good-by all means give him n place. Denis Compton was in the England side before he was 20. So was Len Hutton. And nobody can say they were forced too soon.
But
1 maintain that the the work. A 18 be is just
Comptons and Hations enne being formed in his style and A CRITIC ON
rarely and I am certain that it is i pattern of play. A Rap of 16 usually wiser to give a youngster, months or two years at that
firm training in the first class stage could Arena instead of pushing him
straight into Test cricket on the
scene,
strength of one sudden flash of form or promise, The Test on the whole, is so hot that the immature ant to get burned so badly at
Bat the whole of their
future career is affected.
Again remind you that I do not draw a arm line under that attitude. And I am also well aware of the fact that the Aus- tralians make a point of pushing their youngsters into the big stuff. at the first possible opportunity. Two of their Intest twenty- year-olds; Hoke and Burke, were blonded very successfully against us during the past winter, Young Burke went so far as to join the famous few who have
scored a century In a first Test against England; and if my memory serves me correctly fole bowteil Len Hutton, to start off with and then played an innings of sixty-
1.
That
MORE MATURE
was splendid stuff and quite obviously excellent Aus- tralian policy, But I would make the point that in Australia-due to their weather and their highly organised system of progression in their
cricket-their
young- mature a a great deal earlier boys in England. As a general standard I would say
הפול
that
our
MIC
cricketer
average
Australion
of 18 measures up, in
menu and physical maturity, with our chaps of 22 or 23; and
t often plate:
ruin him completely.
is nat
T
make thr
therein style and standard-
At 22, eually, he is either
you know very well that he
likely higher grade. If he is there he will see to it that he does not lose, during his months of ser vice. What he has fought rai
hard to gain. There is no
W. J. (BH) Edrich first played for Nor- folk while stil at school and after a two- year spell with Middle- gex, was soon playing for England against Australia in 1938 and the South Africans on the 1938-39 tour. Im- mediately after. the War, during which he received the DFC, he healed the batting averages in the 1945 Victory Tesis in Aus- tralia. Today at 35 Bill Edrich is one of Bri- tain's most experienced Test cricketers and
the one of
greatest authorities on the game.
their 20-year-olds compare with in the development
Australio
of young- Wesl or
A STICKY
WICKET
By Alex Bannister
This season the score of cricket literature has risen to over 70, or about equivalent to the highest opening stand by Hution and Washbrook last winter in Australian Tests.
1 am now waiting to
Ki Ming, winner of the 2,000 Guineas and probable favourite for the Derby. His Chinese owner has n bel of £22,000 to £22 against him winning.
Softball's
Summer League
Arcot Looks The Best Bet In A Very Open Derby
Says
“CENTAUR”
The Derby this year will be at once the richest and yet one of the poorest. The prize money may exceed £22,000, but the quality of the field is a matter for nourning. With no outstanding horse in the race there is every prospect of record number of runnera, ·
A
In the unte-post betting favourites have come and as they have run in trials, so they have gone again. Turco II tumbled as a result of being beaten in the Derby Trial Stakes by his stable-mate North Carolinn nnd Stokes,
Corral II by Pharis, one of the greatest horses of this century, won at Newmarket as a two- year-old. He may be the best ef his stable.
North Carolina ls owned by His sire Ballyogan never, won into a successful three-year-old.
J the American Mrs Bryce, whose beyond five furlongs, his Flamboyant's only race suggests two-year-old champion Big Brandstre 'was a miler and his he is full of promise, though Rs Dipper could not be prepared granddam produced sprinters. It falfilment may be too long, de- for the Derby. is by the is small wonder, therefore, that layed. 2,000 Guineas winner Kingsway his owner was able to take out of Precipitation mare, £22,000 to £22 about Ki Ming The Aga Khan's Fmise du for the Derby in January of Bols was dethroned after his de- † 1950. feat by Sybil's Nephew, who is Not tay class. Finally the Is trainer Michael Beary. who rode a Derby winner, speaks Guineas winner Ki Ming has been left high and dry at the top unequivocally "Ki Ming will of the market more by the failure win", which was
roughly the of his contemporaries than by
same sentiment as that expressed His own exertions.
by Tudor Minstrel's connicellons before his failure in 1947.
NOT EVERYBODY'S IDEA
Le Vent has been well- backed, but he appears to be quite a lot behind the French champion Sicambre..
In a very open Derby Arcot looks the best bet:
The 1,000 Guineas' winner Rolle of All is again my selce- tion for the Oaks: She will be itter, this time, she is anbeaten and ought to stay the extra four furlongs. will
KI Ming has a cross of Son-In- He is, nevertheless, not every-Law blood which is the host body's iden of the right type. thing to be said in his favour, Subsequent form suggests he did but though I am prepared to not at much at Newmarket hail him as the great exception and there is the matter of his to the laws of Breeding, pedigree, about which there is n believe it only when it is an lot of controversy.
accomplished fret.
A iate challenger for his position as favourite has come from Arcot, owned by Mrs Glenister, whose Nimbus won two years ago, He is by Neurco from a mare by Hyperion und his pre-Derby form is certainly the most impressive. Despite a cinter of ailment ho won his vial casily despite b. over- weight. Charlie Elliott rides aim at Epsom.
RAGG MOPPS OVERWHELMED SOUTH CHINA BLUES
By "GRANDSTAND”
The softball Summer League which was interrupted by rain after the inaugural game last week, resumed on Tuesday when the Rugg Mopps chalked up their first be victory of the season by overwhelming South China Blues 8-2.
told that, placed from end to;
Most of the runs were scored in the later stages of the game when the more end the books would stretch experienced winners unloaded their power-laden bats on the easy offerings of the
from the wicket to deep Blues hurler.
| third man at the Oval.
The Blues, who were South position Inevitably there are a number | China's Juntor
team through league
some streaky shots, particularly when he assumes the unhappy role of trying to hii his fellow critics for six.
So
news
gathered valuable even though they
I wound up at the short end of the count the important lesson being
underrate 111 op.
ponent's
The
to.
to be Tunk
scored gress.
when practice sessions bim was given credit and other activities demand
too much of the players' time.
So beware, all ye Agger berts who are worshippers of averages, for the Kods can (sometimes play strange gumes.
have
from
It might be worth a trial to have these classes in the off- season undir practical cond!- tions, and now is as good a time as ever.
It has been realised long ago that psychology bas
to
ૐ
wi
Expeditious is ideally bred-by Hyperion out of the Oaks! winner Why Hurry. His only success has no great merit, but he may have had something in hand,
Zucchera is well-bred, but he has bad habits at the gate and
is quite likely to be left.
The Aga Khan has two stayers in the field, the French-bred and Malekzadeh, Shahanshah
Bath won the only races of their careers and the former hos an each way chance.
FRENCH CONTINGENT Among the French contingerit there may be another 40-1 Pearl Diver. Who better. than tre-Vite, a recent, winner, who runs.
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of accounts of the exciting hap playing against more seasoned for the triumph. penings in Australia, among them
upposition being "Elusive Victory," by E. W. X
|experience Swanton (Hodder and Stoughton COM 12s. Oct.).
STREAKY SHOTS · The author often elects to bat
NEXT WEEK'S CARD on the sticky wicket of centro- PRE strength by relaxing versy, and in
The main attraction on next mendous effect on some people, in the same colours?.. so doing makes during a game.
Rage
Mopps utilised
week's card will be the coming and it might also be a good three pitchers before they
clash between the
At the time Overseas
of writing M. could subdue the keen but
recognise suggestion
the Boussac's Chinese and South China Reds,
plans are obscure. felite efforts of the Blues. for
status of qualified umpires in The winter favourite for the although these two teams Jimmy The reader must get tired of
Herrick started on the
race, Nyangal, has not developed always been rivals they the form of a cap or badge. rubber leutures on the the involved
for the Moppera when
to meet up ever had a chance
Squawking ethles of cricket reporting, both Tony Rey failed to show
at -decisions is each other during the regular not here and in Australia,
monopoly of the read: by game time and when Rey
season, being in different players alone, and frequently many are victims of what eventually appeared and took
Obrackets of the Senior Lougue. the
editors imagine people over in the third
fan is even more vociferous in frame, A The Overseas have want to read. This is a bogy. arm landed him in dif- strengthened by the addition of who has suffered the injustice been s indignation than the player cold for one, did not receive a Beuilles at once, when ho
several single
members
the of a "bum" call. instruction
ev walked Y. F. Chan, 1. C. Poon
This is part policy on
Junior League Dragons, while and my job and B. K. Yeung to load the
parcel of Softball
and 20 report what happened: Ises-with-only one--awaying on their regular nine.
the Caroliners will be depend-umpires would be wise to turn youngsters in the lighted with the country is to get their military warmer
slightly and that went for the over- Speedball Vic Pedruco of
n deaf ear to the jockeys and While the Summer League is just conditions of the pas whelming majority of corres- the service deferred until they have wrek and the new form found pondents.
Jaguars was then called
take it as good-natured in expedient outlet for the ribbing. had time to reach a maturity by
in to put out the fire. The next of batting and bowling style South
these |
pent-up e likeable lads
Swanton a great theorist. batter up was retired on three bilten enthusiasts, the umpiring energy of the bug- they will not lose.
Africa, The success of He claims Freddie Brown was lightning strikes while the
that dead "no deop theorist....owing not third out was registered with for special comment.
altuation in most their bowlers
xames calls บท can pitch at Cardiff is a reminder a ittle to the powers of observa-
out any score when C. W. Ng considerable that
.that we all nut have to tion of Hutton and the intelligent was forced to ground out.
Arbiters are provided by the argument. And as one who under-estimate then as many theories of Bailey...collectively
manager of the home team went through the mil in ruther people have been inclined to do the teath was not overburdened
next on schedule without any exciting way last time 1 would
regard being paid to their quali- with cricket brains." match after their unfortunate be the last to excuse at Bradford. A
With the conflagration ex-
fications to serve in Yorkshireman anybody
that im- else from this duty assured me this week that the lightly. But do feel that this weather in
tinguished, Tony Rey was re-portant capacity. Strange as it is matter of considerable im- nnt it for man or beast!
that match was 1. for one, was deeply grateful called in the mound but after may seem, the more experienced
that Brown was a man of action. ¡ brief tenure of two more portance which could have sensible treatment,
Some of the best. quickish and not a theorist that's partly innings, Rey was banished once bowling I have had to face for what English cricket is suffering more as his control failed, and
from. some time was put up to
more fireman
atur men of 25.
The big thing I thlak
Would
ters we Indies.
de for, say, the 20 most-4-Everybody -in-cricket is de oughout the tour,
I well realise that this
be a matter of
With
every respect I suggest that 20 youngsters a
year de-
from
once
EXTINGUISHED
an
ballplayer, the more reluctant.
be is to offer his services in offcial capacity, and there Indication that this condition wil be
no Pedruce is
by Jose, the Australian at Swanton regrets Brown did came to the rescue and master- peculiar
ferred from the usual call-up Oxford,
age of 18 to, say,
22, would
I gather that he will not have the advice of strategierd the batters by whiffing 3. remedied in the near future,"
L. G. Poon in quick medical planning from someone of ripe Lau and
from the succession,
not make the slightest differ-Training at the Middlesex Hos- experience watching
shortly continue his
ence
But it could make
of difference
to
the world England's cricket power during the next
jew years.
una
progress
at the
expense
The organisers of the current! to our national security, pitat and that he might
League have hit on a brilliant But turn pavilion.
the occasion For five frames the Blues' even if slighly eccentric. Out in a few games for Kent, Brown did accept off-the-field held the Ragg Mopps to only idea
of granting the right of advice led to the bloomer of une-run lead but the heavier ownership to the game-ball to MIDDLESEX HOPES Flutton being demoted in the stick work was beginning to tell the umpire nominated. So far
Brst two on Many people think all too
rookie pitcher Wong us this is an inducement, but this Hghtly of the publicity
I can also report favourably ang order in the and Du the
of our two
MCC lost the series partly be- Castro
Pedruco, Judk Brown and Less
of good prestige which attacles itself; Middlesex youngsters. Moss cause of luck
out of faith of the singles in succession to chase in
Tapped
three fumpiring. to our performances both at and Bennett,
II is perhaps fortunate that Both have real selectors, who had made up their trio of markers that practical- the Summer League participants home and abroad as on Eng speed now. Bennett I would mindis victory was hopeless. They ly knocked all the fight out of are not as aggressive as come land team. As one who has put in the category of the therefore chose a goodly quots travelled
overseas and seen youngsters I would like to see of youngsters, including three the youthful aspirants.
of the more polished umpe- something of it I can assure with a deferment of
Statistics have a strange way baiters milltary whose stay in the game is tem
found in the regular you it is tremendous, An MCC service. Right now, at 17, he porary. and overlooked team abroad is
the of
Pitcher League, of presenting facts.
as otherwise all the one et our has a glorious bowling action plain fact that Australia is the
Jimmy Herrick, who started balls in the world would not finesi
windows 05
and every promise of
of becoming last place to groom
for the Moppers, the ap- credited with the win, having nation and whatever the high-
was attract the inexperienced, very good batsman. But he is
Thic Association brows may say about
encourages He is prentice. the stage when he needs Mr Swanson makes
left the game at a stage when recruits many
to the "arb of calling only
being "a game" 1 can constant watching careful excuses for the selectors, some
the score was 3-2 in favour them as they are" by providing- assure you that in national handling and the right amount of which are valid but for of his own side, and after he classes under the Umpire-in- team sonse it is infinitely more. of encouragement and coaching committee to omit the names of yielded the pilching stint to Chief. but the support is
ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Two more seasons could make | Edrich and Tailersoll from the Rey and Pedruco the Blues pathetic. him. Instead be faces two best 17 players in England to falled to cross the plate again. Perhaps the fault has been What difference would It seasons of army life which can my mind was unforgivable, and This is one game when the with the sponsors of these make to defer a boy from 18 to ruin everything he has learned has yet to be satisfactorily ex- weicest hurler of the three classes which are held while 227 Why, alt the Vifference in so far.
plained.
who allowed both of the op- the playing season is in pro-
show
crickell at
POP
CAN'T YOU READ
SIR
cu!
WELL I
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