1939-08-05 — Page 20

LOCAL CRICKET

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST: 5, 1939,

Definite Progress In Home, Away League Matches Question

PROPOSAL BEING BRITISH GIRL MADE AT LEAGUE ESTABLISHES ANNUAL MEETING NEW RECORDS

TENTATIVE FIXTURE

LIST

DRAWN

UP

(By "ADREM”) The arrival of the month of August invariably brings to mind prospects of our extensive pro- gramme of sports for the cooler months.

At the conclusion of the last cricket season mentioned that there was a strong movement afoot for home and away League matches for the coming season.

That this matter has not been allowed to sink into obscurity with the advent of tennis and swimming is now apparent.

Sponsor of the movement is a well-known local cricketer, who last a side hitherto season captained 'against more League matches.

I understand that he has written, to the League authorities explaining that he had sounded various clubs on the subject as the result of which he has come to the conclusion that there is in fact, a strong desire among local cricketers that the season should be occupied with more League matches.

Clubs are now in the process of, be- ing circulated by the League. The proposition is being explained to them so there will be no excuse, at the Annual League meeting, for lack of

which notice of this question

has vexed local cricketers for years.

The League are going into the mat- ter with commendable...thoroughness

and, I am given to understand, tenta-

of

at

tive fixture list will be drawn up al- lowing for the increased number matches, which will be available the meeting. By this means it will be able to ascertain, without very much difficulty, the practicability of

the scheme.

Britain has discovered the great-T est woman cyclist of all time. In the last few weeks she has been burning up the roads in a series of unpaced records which are the fin- est achievements of their kind in the history of the sport.

SPORTS

PARADE

other

THERE is little doubt that British

tennis is at a pathetically low le

Home correspondent, vel, writes a commenting on Britain's defeat in the Davis Cup contest with Germany.

It was not an unexpected defeat and if the present people who compose the L.T.A. are allowed to remain, defeats may be expected.

Lawn tennis is different in. Britain from that played in any other coun- try. It is a "gentlemen's" game and Her name is Marguerite Wilson, though you may be well-equipped to and she lives, ut Bournemouth, Eng-play the game, there is a positive dan- land. Twenty-one years old, pretty and ger if you are the type of person who charming Marguerite is Д blonde leaves his aitches around the courts. bombshell on the road.

a

There is a no more tragic sight Probably her finest feat was to cover than to witness the Wimbledon court the 138 miles from London to Ports- looking so terribly un-Wimbledonish mouth and back in only 42 minutes with aitches lying about everywhere, more than the famous Australian, The British team that went to Ber- Hubert Opperman.

lin spoke the best English with She has followed this up with break-streamlined Oxford accent; that, their un- tennis was not equal to their accent is ing five other British women's

it paced road cycle records in as many a minor matter.

Britain lost at Berlin because sent the worst team it could select, but all of the team were well-in so- best cially and they belonged to the clubs.

weeks!

| October, Decemb January, February

and March with a certain amount of April which could be used at a pinch. November is always A difficult

Miss Wilson is a 'member of the month owing to. Volunteer Camps, but as these were only extended over two famous team of road record-breakers year against four sponsored by the Hercules cycle firm week-ends last previously, there is every reason to of Birmingham, England. The lessons record achieve- believe that the same practice will be learned from their in operation this year in which casements go into the design and

might a couple of games

bestruction of the even fitted into this month should it desired.

is

cycles

that

con-

The Americans and the Australians do not require an Oxord accent as part for- this of their equipment. They are

be famous British firm ship to nearly tunate, indeed, in this respect. Until

every country in the world.

British lawn tennis is purged of its The team also includes "Shake" snobbery it will continue to supply Earnshaw, who recently rode a cycle such lamentable displays as that giv-

ever en in Berlin. unpaced at the highest speed achieved (on the road)-33 miles per hour.

I don't think the light factor any sort of an argument against the proposal. Undoubtedly hours of play would be rather curtailed in Novem- ber and December but that surely should only be an incentive to teams to generally speed up their play and would tend to brighten cricket.

Excluding November entirely, there

20 Saturdays are roughly

which could be appropriated. Under the present scheme of things, teams in the first Division are only required to play seven matches.

Not Against Friendlies

as are

The remainder of the season,

clubs far as the majority of concerned, is made up with friendlies, Whilst I am, not against friendlies, I feel that the League certainly does bring out the best in each club. We

first-class had some really ascertain I have not been able to

League whether or not the proposed revision matches last season which did a lot will affect both Divisions. It seems

to stimulate interest in the game which is now probably on a sounder foot- to me that the Juniors, who had 10 teams in the competition last season, ing than it ever has been. would have considerable difficulty in getting through à programme of 18 matches.

Only Seven Matches In the Senior Division, there is usually an average of about seven: to. eight clubs. Last year there. were eight, making seven League matches to be played by each club. It is in this Division that the need for mat- ches has always, been felt.

As I see it, there are five full months available for the League. They are

Surely then, 14 fixtures in a season is not too much to ask of any club.

Nevertheless, several cricketers with whom I have discussed the subject, feel that a greater margin of error should be allowed and that 11 matches would suffice.

In order that this could be dono, each team would be required to play one match against each of the others, and the other four fixtures would be drawn for,

It might be argued that under this scheme it would be possible that the

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·

*

*

*

L sed boxers in Great Britain. These

AST season there were 2685 licen-

licensed boxers carried on their backs, 182 promoters, 150 referees, 226 man- ¡M.C.'B, agers, 34 matchmakers, 80 hundreds of trainers; 44 timekeepers, and 491 seconds.

Few of this number made anything approaching a living out of the game, than much less so the boxers. Less

30 per cent. of those engaged in Bri- tish boxing made £5 a week during the season. In other words, it would take the average British boxer thirty-

stronger teams would be drawn against cach other in the second half of the programme thus giving some weaker team a chance of winning the cham- pionship against merit.

Would this be detrimental to the two years to earn as much as Henry I think not. It would tend Armstrong, the American boxer, earn- game?

ed in one night. travelling to keep the shield would open up competition far more..

and

Greater Margin of Error

no

interest.

With more matches in which to re- there would be cover lost ground more incentive to go for outright wins. Cricket would be brightened -up and interest in the League would be main- tained over a longer period.

Another argument for more League matches is that a greater margin of error would be allowed. Under pre- sent arrangements team with championship aspirations can afford to lose a couple of games at the be ginning of the season. Such reverses

As this question has come up with would definitely place them right out of the running. Therefore there regularity for years, I would appeal is a strong tendency, among teams, to those who have hitherto opposed in early games, to "shut up shop fair the scheme to at least agree to giving ly early when it is apparent that it a trial this year. If these cricke victory. ters feel that it would not be a suc- to there is little prospect of Otherwise, the remainder their cess, it would always be possible League fixtures, to a club which starts revert to the old system and the old off by losing two out of their seven question would then be decided once

of and for all, games, would lack a great deal

DRINK

of

EWO PILSNER

The New. Light Summer Brew