THE CHINA MAIE,
SOUTH AFRICAN FIELDING IS GOOD BUT THEY NEED TIME TO SETTLE DOWN
Says Bruce Dooland
To live up to reputation is always difficult. I thought that when I heard the magnificent fielding of the touring South Africans boosted so highly on their arrival-for it sometimes isn't easy to field brilliantly on a cold, blustery day in May in England. My doubts were realised. When the curtain went up at Worcester, some of the critics were not unduly impressed. Too many catches were dropped.
On both these famous they have, screens at
the end
members' and
I am looking forward to meet finns
the
tourists
but in
the one
- So I plead this give these South Africans a chance. Let them get acclimatised. Let them get the feel of the cooler atmosphere, the different light, the slower turf. Let them get geared to the new and difficult conditions in England. I haven't yet played against easily imagine you were in any things harder. for the batsmen, thern this season myself--I hope entirely different country if the and is not very fair to them. to do so this week-end-but weather really plays up, as we Consider Lord's and Trent every advice I have had from know it can. Australia, and from the players
met Jack Cheethaming who laye and his men, indicates that they middew, for it is always refresh- pavilion as the other. So which те an exceptional bunch of ing to play against a new com-end do you think I prefer to
The fielders, that they WILL show pany of cricketers. Many people, bowl?
pavilion and, of particularly in course.
is a little If my hand Author,
Our match with bit "lost" against the dark back- because
Ground the they feel
window of a pavilion South Africans car, bat reason for instance, the batsman is less ably well against pace or medium likely to be able to pick out pace, as they did in Australia,
which way
I intend to spin the but they don't know how strong, ball; my chances of beating him or weak.. they
are therefore increased. So it's "curly stuff like mine.
hardly surprising that I trundle away from the pavilion end
English crowds a standard of felding better than anything|terested seen in England in years.
or,
faster
them..
are
are
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1955,
SPORTINGTM SAM
By Reg. Wootton
Police Bowlers Face
Their First Real Test This Afternoon
By TOUCHER”.
Police Recreation Club, who are making a strong bid for the Senior Division Lawn Bowls League title this season, face their first real test this afternoon when they clash with neighbouring Craigengower Cricket Club.
With the League only in its points among agathst
third week it is still too early to forecast the likely winners, but the
Recreio defeat of "Bluea" last week by Kowloon Cricket Club has given not only the KCC bowlers themselves but also the top contenders an extremely good start.
On
This acclimatisation period is something needed by every tour- ing side, wherever they are travelling. When the English tearn Lands in Australia, for instance, it needs several weekts
It should be interesting to find whenever I can. "feel" of the brighter to get the "fe light
faster bounce of the out, although I don't know what arid ball from the harder turf. England will be able to do
But is it fair on the batsman? that he should always They used to tell me that the about it it they And the tourists I feel ball. actually
travels
are vulnerable to leg-spinners, be given a fair chance to have through the clearer, brighter, air For there seems to be a com-a clear sight of the bowler's
So for the out incre. So
few plete dearth of this type the first few
hand.
some grounds the weeks they tend to play a little bowling in County cricket today.
sightscreens have been removed late
when they go for
to make room for more specta In fact, I attribute
my own caten, they find the bail hitting large bag of wickets over the fors and so step up the gate. their hands in fraction earlier past two seasons to just that Perhaps that is a good idea in than they expected it. They fact. English batsmen are just these hard times. But I cannot And the same sort of thing in not getting enough experience be sure. When batting, I myself
against leg spin bowling. ;
the ball when I have been bat- So when the Australian or Don't imagine I am complain-ting against these backgrounds South Africans come over Eng-ing. It suits me down to the of dark windows
and moving land they meet the same problem ground. It suits me, in fact, al- heads of members. Certainly in reverse. I'll wager the majority most us well as the Bradford the tourists will take time to of faulty shots made in the first wicket evidently
*suited
my get used to it for sightscreens few weeks, in England and the countyman, George Tribe, lust at both ends are always the rule catches that are put down-are week-end. Imagine it 13 in South African cricket and due to playing and reaching that Yorkshire wickuris in one day! the absence of them was one fraction early.
What a memorable bag for any of the first things they noticed bowler
claim. K
Yorkshire at Worcester, wickets, too, in Yorkshire.
One of the things the South
South Africa and West Indies.
know how difficult it is to see
SMALLER CRICKET BALL
LOCAL CONDITIONS
Every touring side needs a full menth to get tuned into Africans are going to miss are
A great deal has been said
the local conditions probably more the cast fading tightscreens of about
experiments now here in England, where pitch England. They are disappearing going on with the new, smaller and weather conditions change from nearly every first-class cricket bail But I think it so much from one match to an-ground. I tell you frankly that would be wrong to imagine that other. After all, if you play the new development suits me there is any likelihood of any one game at Bournemouth and as a bowler handsomely. But I
immediate change in this im- the next et Bradford you could am equally sure it is making portant part of our equipment.
The Tour d'Autriche -Supreme Test In Amateur Cycle Racing
By RITCHIE MCEWEN
'An open invitation to Britain's long distance amateur racing cyclists to take part in this year's Tour d'Autriche, the toughest and most gruelling amateur cycle race in the world, has been extended by the sponsors, the Austrian Amateur Bicycle Sport Commission in Vienna.
"We have only had one single entry from your country since the race was inaugurated seven years ago in 1948", the secretary of the Commission told me. "Last year a keen young National Serviceman with the British Army in Austria, took part but was forced to give up after the first few miles. We would so much like to see your best amateur riders out here this summer.”
J
to
1.
The Tour
d'Autriche takes:
2. Eight prizes of from £7 to place this year Com June 25 £2 for the leading cyclists of
July 2, the last day
for each day's completed section. entry is May 28 and already
3. Prizes ranging from £9 to more than 10 of Europe's best 30/- for the best six riders ovir amateur cyclists from sine na-each mountain pass.
The MCC are very careful about this kind of thing. The idea was first put forward when it was felt that batsmen were getting too many runs, that it would do the game good to help the bowlers. So the slightly smaller ball was thought of and jew experimental halls were
The realest Controversy
In their last two outings the lawmen showed that they mean real business this year, collecting no fewer than nine points from Kowloon Bowling Green Club. and Indian Recreation Club "Gold" to take the lead in the League table,
the champion seen in a number of League. Recreio
sooner thesE "Blues", giant-killing matches and the Kowloon Cricket Club and In-players realise that theirs is dian. Recreation Club.
not to reason why, but bowl and give the lie", the better it will After their brilliant perform-be for their rink, ance last week, the Crickit Clab bowlers are expected to steam- roll their way over the Filipino hinges on the duties of the No. 3. twelve, collecting five points in in local bowls it has been an the process, unless Dick Basa's accepted practice to allow the skip to do what he likes with tour decide otherwise.
that ~ his first wood and after
No. Incidentally, Dick, is the oldest some
3's maintain that bowler in active competition and they have an undisputed the local greens. Only a few right to "insist" on what shot is confidants know his actual age to be played by the skip with but from a reliable source gather he must be about 77 to- his next wood.
FULLY CAPABLE A decisive win by the Police this afternoon will place them Litle aspirants. high among Playing at top form as they are now, and with the advantage of a home green, they are fully capable of wresting the decision from their neighbours.
They seen lio be Д more workable combination than they were last year even though they had George Perkins,
Charlie 1 Gough and Jack Hayward | bowlers today who hope that poin, that the No, 3 has no right among them then.
they can bowl as well as he The Craigengower bowlers had when they come to that age. much of their optimism shaved
day, having won the Craigen Bóth J. P. Menro in his book- gower cricket bowling and bat let, The Euquene of Bowls" ting average prize as far back and R. Harrison in his book as 1894 when he was only 16. "How to be a Champion де
stre there are many Bowis" seem
Fon
to agree On
the
to tell the skip what to do. He may advise num if the head has Indian Recreation Club been altered, but he must not of last week when they in- gloriously went down to IRC "Blues" are likely to meet with control his play.
Blues" by 4 to and will a little sterner opposition from
the
be labouring this afternoon the Recreio Whites" in their under psychological effecta quest for the maximum points of that setback.
and may drop one point in this Both Joe Landolt and Alfred match. Coates have not been too happy with their frontmen despite the high individual reputation of some of them and this lack of confidence may again prove Craigengewer's undir.g
The
The etiquette in this case is for the No. 2. to remain silent until the skip asks for advice.
This sounds a sensible course for the main reason that no other Still stronger opposition will person can be fully aware of the or Recreio "Blues" type of shot that another person be the lot who will cross over to the is capable of. A bowler is cer- Bowling Green Club. Still an tainly not fit to skip a rink i unpredictable team, the Bowling he does not have the conâdence hope ofluum wood pushers can be 2: of not only his No. 3 but also
match for the best team in the his other two frontmen Colony on their day and yet go down to the weakest on" an off day,
Felice Club's maintaining their lead in the League table will probably de
end mainly on the form of rinks skipped by Ken Bodie and H. B. Dewar,
tent
Goodman's four are a tem- For them this will be their
lot! I remember best chance to
the strike at peramental
TODAY'S GAMES
First Division
PRC v. CCC
to
KCC v. FC
made and are now being tried describing Beuty's rink as the Champions who still have
team in one and their true form. Both out. It was felt that it might weak link of the ccable spin bowlers to spin the match last leason and they came clubs ball more easily and that the through with an overwhelming exactly
win the same afternoon.
bigger scam would enable the faster men to keep it swinging longer. A
And
the
so it might. But fact is the penduluma seems to have swung; it is now batsmen who don't seem to be able to get runs, while the bowlers are sitting on top. See how few runs recent England teams have
been making.
That's why it would surprise
me if any change were to come about, though I think the MCC are perfectly right to experi ment. The more information they can put into their files of cricket knowledge, the better.
don't Personally. !
like the smaller ball. It doesn't fit into the band like the ordinary one and it feels too hard" from the band and off the bat,
3
I think the MCC are perfectly tions (Austria, Germany, Swit- 4. Finally, special prizes are: zerland, Saarland, France, Bel- given to the riders of the three right, too, to conduct their "foot-
drag experiments
gium, Rumania, Hungary and best teams-tour riders to Czechoslovakia) for the eple race. It is esti-
have
entered team.
A
31 Lord's. But, again, don't expect sudden moves and amendments. These experiments, with different bowlers
and umpires, will
this season.
PO OD
mated that there will probably To qualify to nomination be a final 'Geld" of a hundred entrants must be in possession of all through
The riders.
a UCI licence, and when applying Each year the route is changed to the Commission should en-result will be a whole dossier and is year, the race is to be close: The starting fce of 25. sd.of information for the MCC to "only" 810 miles long, divided written permission from
the sift. Then, if they feel that any into daily sections of between entrant's cycling club to take change will effect an improve- 100 x 140 miles, with a day's part in the race and a list of ment, they will act, rest after the fourth leg”. rading successes,
SUPREME TEST
Though zot the longest amateur bicycle race in Europe, the Tour d'Autriche is now re. garded as the supreme test in amateur cycle racing because it calls for the greatest skill and endurance,
of
The course passos over three Europe's highest Alpine ranges, and there is at least one major Alpine pass to be tackled every day, including the famouṛ 8,500 teel Gross-Glockner, the highest mountain road pass in Europe.
In the seven races which have so far taken place, not more than ball the Eek has com- pleted the course, which starts and Anishes in Vienna, and passes through each of the nine Austrian Provinces.---
Four types of prizes are offered by the sponsors,
1. For individual ridere: 20
prizes ranging from 8:42 for the winner to 27,
If your application is accepted,
COACHING HINT:
Again for bowlers. Forget the the Commission pays all your old teaching of finding a length expenses during the race. And, first. If you want to bowl fast, in case you're still" interested, bowl fast and get length later. the address is: Oesterreichische If you want to spin, spin hard, Radsport Kommission, Wien 1, make the ball do something Walfischgame 12, Austria,
THE
WEEK-END
TD LOVE TO BE
CATCHING THE TRAIN
and get length later,
GAMBOLS
O THE WINTER SPORTS
ID SOONER FLY
are felding almost
the
same Leams that. PAILED!
the Portuguese win by a 4-1 margin, but if the with
On paper Craigengower should
Club is slightly strengthened the return of "Spotty" "custodians of the
law can re Pereira and Lionel Rodrigues to produce the same form they did the line-up. A 4-1 if not a in the last two weeks, the 6-0 win for Recreio is indicated cision may well be theirs by
here, the same margin.
SECOND DIVISION
D3
RACE FOR POINTS
The bellad Division "games The other three First Division matches will be
for will a race
highlighted by the inter-dockyard clash between Taikoo -Dock and Kowloon Dock. These are two of the
Answers To Sports Quiz
1. Germany,
stronges! 04 view in this
KBGC v. Recreio "Blues"
Recreio "Whites" v. IRC..
IRC "Gold" (Bye)
Second Division
FC v. KCC
CCC v. USRC TC v. KDC HKCC v. PRC
third Division KDC v. FC USEC v. KEGY HKTC v. POC
HKERC v. FEC
A Victory Not
*
division and an excellent game To Be Forgotton
should be the order of the day with the odds in favour of the mainland dockķērs, `.
2. Babe Zaharias, Joe Louis,
Bergmann.
Denis Compton, Richard Filipino
*
In ⚫ the other matches Kowloon Cricket Club azo likely to take full points from Club, Craigengower the Club
same number of points from USRC and HKCC 3. W. G. Grace, J. W. H. T. 1our points from Police,
Douglas
In A Hurry
Johnny Read, unbeaten Lon- will don middleweight boxer, not forget, in a hurry his four- teenth consecutive win.
Johnny, 1931 Far East Land Forces Light Heavyweight Champion he served with the The Third. Divisier, too, will Royal West Kent Regiment in on his back 4. Gonzalez and Segura, pro-Have their own "match of the Malaya-was flat
fessional
when Hongkong, Electric when the referee awarded him tennis, day
Club entertain Police Recreathe verdict over hard-hitting players...
tion Club at Ming Yuen. The Billy Ellaway of Bootle in Police third string made an Liverpool this week. impressive start last week with
lawn
5. Billiards and Badminton
6. Reigning Champion, Jaroslava 5-0 win over USBC and their Elaway was asqualified for a
Drobay.
progress this afternoon will be low blow in the second of their 7. Goil. An albatross la three with interest, especially by Kow-scheduled eight-round bout.
under par, an eagle two loon Dockyard,"
under.
8. Lon Jones, of America,
An interesting talking point This week which I feel should be brought out at this early stage
9. Art Larsen, also America..of the League has to do with. the varied duties of the different
In the four minutes the Aght lasted, Eilaway, hooking and jabbing, had Read back-pedal- ling.
Ironically, it was the first time Read came forward that
the
19. Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles men in the rink. Loud-talking Vital blow landed
and 'Rocky Marciano. No. 1's and No. 2's can still be
by Barry Appleby
OH, I WOULDNT-FLY. IN} |||ON, SO YOU THINK IN A THE MONTEREST FRUMP..... AND YOU'D
YOU'RE TOO UKE TO PUT ME ON A
OLD-FASHIONED
DANGEROUS "PLANET AND SEND ME TO J. SWITZERLAND
DARLING, WHAT ARE)
ARGUING ABOUT? WERE NOT LIKELY TO GO TO THE WINTER SPORTS ANYWAY
London Express Service.
So Tender
and
facty
FRANCIS MILLERD'S
GREAT NORTHERN
FANCY RED SOCKEYE
SALMON STEAK
Sala Agante!
STRE & MAGLADE
Wherever you are-
Choose
BOOTH'S
FINEST
DRY GIN
Sole Distributor:
CALDBECK. MACGREGOR
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