1940-08-09 — Page 13

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 9, 1940

INTER-UNIT

CRICKET

VOLUNTEER

LEAGUE

CLUB CRICKETER'S FINE FEAT

In ordinary times non-stop century-maker Leonard- Newmah, the Alexandra Park cricketer, would have been a headliner for a feat, just accomplished, which has passed unsung.

He has hit the 200th hundred of an astonishing cricket

Only Solution To The Many Problems In Offing AMBITIOUS SCHEME IS OUTLINED TO CATER FOR THIRTY ODD UNITS WOULD PROMOTE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE CORPS AND WOULD GIVE THE YOUNGER PLAYERS THEIR

By "Adrem"

CHANCE

carcer.

Jack Hobbs has done it, and so, maybe, did W. G. Grace In all matches, though I never heard it claimed for him, but I do not think there is any other authentloated record to compare with Newman's, writes a Home correspondent.

T. G. Grinter hit 185 centuries up to the end of 1938, in which season the Alexandra Park star just got his nose In front of his great rival and passed his century aggre- gate by one.

4,138 IN A SEASON

C. H. Tichmarsh, another prolific scorer, once hit 4,016 * runs in a season, but Newman, In 1935, topped this by 122 and in three consecutive seasons totalled over 10,000 runs,

Even Bradman has never got near this batting orgy. Newman made his first hundred in 1908, scored 200 or more 14 times, and his life aggregate is well over 50,000. Now has a son in the Alexandra Park first eleven with him who has inherited the century habit.

WITH THE Battle of Britain in the offing, our own problems of local de- fence before us and minds still unsettled from the recent evacuation, the thoughts of most local cricketers are likely to be on any subject but cricments, balls and tea. The cost of outside of the Corps, Naval Vo- ket. August, however, ad ances rapidly, September will soon be upon us and with September a new cricket season.

Footballers, notwithstanding local disturbances, have started on their job and their arrangements for the Winter programme are already well advanc- ed.

Notwithstanding increased calls on his time by the Volunteers or other defence organisations, the Hong Kong cricketer, especially those benedicts who were wont to reserve their Sundays for the family, should have more time on their hands during the Winter than ever before. Consequently the main argument against Sunday cricket should not now apply.

So to start with-and I warn readers that I am going to submit some revolutionary ideas I am going to advocate Sunday cricket. For those puri- tans who feel that the right way to spend Sunday is in church, I would now state that my scheme does not include the mornings and so there is no reason why church should not be attended in the mornings __with_cricket-surely the ideal form of Sunday re-

creation-occupying the afternoons.

The standard here The prevailing." That is the first stage. second is the entire reconstitution may or may not be poor-that is of the Cricket League. After a matter of opinion-but it must little has considerable initial doubt as to the be granted that very possibility of carrying on last sea-been done to encourage the pro- son, a League of sorts-won event-duct of the local school once he ually by K.C.C.—was carried to has left school.

Am-

Possible Composition Of Various Teams Following are cricketers who

days to Fridays, there would be tionary and not a little involved could form the backbone of a

que

Iside:

the tea and balls would be split lunteers, with L. D. Kilbée, F. and individuals would be respon- Baker, D. S. Robb, C. M. Stark ible for their own chits, to be and B. D. Lay, to mention but a to raise a forwarded by clubs to the units few, should be able that Volunteer

concerned, who would be respon-fairly useful side, while Police, understanding units would have first call on the sible for collection from members of course, have always fielded a services of their members. and payment each month to the useful representative team. Assuming that all units in the club concerned. In order that clubs I am told that St. John Volunteers were able to raise at should not be saddled with the bulance claims many members of feast one side, that Navy, Naval

responsibility of collections. I.R.C., and they might be able to Volunteers, Police, Police Re- H.K.V.D.C. or the parent body of enter a team. serves, A. R. P. and St. John Am-the unit participating would bulance entered teams, and that guarartee all accounts out of re-

a Company League gimental or other funds. Army held matches being played from Mon.

All this sounds very revolu-

certain it could be some 30 teams entered.

At first glance, running a Lea-but I am

that worked. We live in unusual times for as many teams as

First Battery-D. McLellan, J. would appear an almost impos- and local authorities, not to men- sible undertaking unless, as has tion those at Home, have express-L. Ilsley, H. J. D. Lowe, B. I. happened hitherto, the League ed the desire that sport should be Bickford and A. S. Bliss.

Second Battery-T. W. Carr, N. as far as possible. or more maintained

the D. Lloyd, N. J. Bebbington, R. H. were divided into two divisions. Sub-dividing gets away Apart from that there is from another factor that I think stimulation that would be given Griffiths.

Third Battery-H. T. Buxton, is to the good of local cricket. If to cricket and, greatest factor of there were only one division, the all, the building of a team spirit R. S. Capell, H. A. Nanak, A. H young players just out of school within the Corps that might do Ismail, A. K. Omar, N. Leonard Fourth Battery-F. Schnepel, W. would, in the course of a season, much to make the individual for- and E. S. Cunningham. come up against practically every get grievances, real or imaginaly, really good cricketer in the Co-AND ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO M Gittins and I. S. A. Curreem.

Fifth. A. A, Battery-L. Gold- lony instead of having to languish JOINED UNDER COMPULSION

in a Junior TO STAY ON IN THE CORPS man, J. L. C. Pearce, D. S. Blake, A. T. Lee, D. I. Bosanquet, A. Division waiting for some veteran AFTER THE WAR IS OVER.

Kitchell, B. L. Stock, T. V. N. --Possible Strength: Fortescue, E.-F. Fincher, G.. A, L. Plummer, A. Zimmern, A. C. I. Estimated

Bowker, R. C. Reed and F. A. M.

for several seasons

to retire and make way for him in the senior team. Therefore, it it is humanly

there! possible, should be only one division.

Clubs' Co-operation

Essential

A rough estimate of the cricket- Elliott.

Field Coy. Engineers-Major R. ing strength of the Corps can be had by scanning the list append- 'D. Walker, F. A. Redmond, I. P. jed. It is not suggested that this Tamworth, J. L. Stephens, J. M. It is essential therefore, as I'st is correct in every detail or Wilson, G. A. V. Hall, R. E. Lee, see it, that all clubs should co- that all the names in it repre- E. T. Wood and F. J. Lay. be And while it may a more or less successful conclu

argued

sent cricketers who have so far operate whole-heartedly,

Corps Signals-W. H. G. Hirst, sion but in many aspects it was that the Volunteer, who has rea-

The grounds problem would be been. active. But for the most A. D. Coppin, T. S. D. Whitley, K.. unsatisfactory in that H.K.C.C.dily taken on all the added work did not take part, and one or two that the war has brought, is mere-a very real one if the clubs did part, all the names-shown are of M. Baxter, B. S. Wilson, T. H. as it would be those who play or who have play-Suiter, W. S. Gegg and N. J. of the weaker teams were unable y helping to save his own neck not all come in result of increased calls on their break out, it is also a fact that placed at the time by the Volunteers.

to complete their fixtures as the by his efficiency if trouble should necessary for all grounds to be ed the game fairly recently. In Booker.

disposal of the other words a nucleus around No. 1 Company H. Owen-

of

carry on in a more satisfactory Inter-Unit League Would Aid Corps

crs?

anc

With

:

Hughes, A. H. Penn, L. B. Holmes, the H.K.V.D.C., unlike the milit-League, thus, for the time being, which sides could be built.

There is little doubt that No. 3 D. G. Day, L. C. Baker, F. J. D. If the present Volunteer train-ary authorities, makes very little washing out any organised club

cricket of any sort.

Company, with almost the cream, Clemo, L. E. Lammert, R. M. ing programme, with the addition provision for his recreation

Assuming again that 30 teams of the talent of K.C.C. and Cral Wood, J. T. Lacey, R. A. J. Simp- one week-end's training a entertainment, Apart from Volun- month for all units, is maintain-teer Sunday cricket, there is no entered arrangements would have gengower, are the strongest on son, D. B. Nelson and M. F. L.

is little doubt, Haymes.

No. 2 Company-W. C. Tillery, ed. any League that is formed organised effort to arrange recrea- to be made for some 29 matches paper, and there

every week-end if all teams were that they would have little diffi- will, in all likelihood, be able to tion of any description.

available, but, of course, they culty in fielding two sides, pos- J. P. White, A. K. Mackenzie, E. won't-be. At least five Volunteer sibly one from No. 9 Platoon, in Curtis, I. Kempton and F. Crabb. manner than last season. But is

No. 3 Company-E, C. Fincher, units will be training every week-which most of their cricketers arej a Cricket League, on the lines of

end so this reduces the number of congregated, and another from the D. J. N. Anderson, E. Zimmern, the one operating last season, de- All work and no play makes matches for a start.

rest of the Company.

¡N, A. E. Mackay, D. Hung, A. L. Rapley, F. R. sirable to the majority of cricket-Jack a dull boy. Similarly al

So far as is known there are 12 Fifth A. A. Battery is also not Zimmern, W. work and no play-on organised grounds-Navy, Happy Valley, lacking in talent, while No. 1 Com-Zimmern, A. Hung, T. A. Madar, lines-does little or nothing University, H.K.C.C. C.S.C.C., pany, with Major. Owen-Hughes M. C. Hung, T. Lock, V. H. White, Organised Cricket -

foster that team spirit and esprit Police, C.C.C., Army, I.R.C., Navy, at the helm, have numerical J. Prettejohn, R. J. Reed, W. K. More Desirable

de corps which, it must be ad- King's Park, C. B. S., Recreio, and strength if nothing else.

Way, S. A. Reed, E. N, Matthews, fact that mitted, has not been a strong point K.C.C. It is a well-known

The Portuguese. Companies are C. N.. Matthews, G. S. Winch, N.. and RT.Broad- League cricket does not meet with of the Corps.

Saturdays and Sundays well split up as regards strength Broadbridge general approval. There have been WHICH AT LAST BRINGS ME utilised this would mean that. 24 and would be able to field two bridge. many, in recent years, who have TO MY POINT: CRICKET HERE matches could be played each useful sides, while Mobiles are not. No. 6. Company J. M. Gosano, C. D'Almada e Castro, E. M/L. advocated its entire abolition. |UNDOUBTEDLY NEEDS A week, and this should more than lacking in talent.

Several companies have de- Soares, C. N., Gosano, L. ⠀ G. It has been, accepted, neverthe SHAKE-UP; PRINCIPAL ARGU-meet the, situation,

LEAGUE Grounds would be drawn with definitely not, the numbers to run Gosano, M. Mendonca and P. M. less, that organised cricket is bet-MENT AGAINST ter than just friendlies in that CRICKET IS VOLUNTEER DUT-fixtures, which brings an element their own sides, but I suggest that Neda Silva. -some discipline is maintained, and, IES;/ PRACTICALLY EVERY of chance into the scheme of they could form a Combined Units. No. 0 Company-L. A. Soares, if it has been keener than neces- CRICKETER IN THE COLONY things. It would mean that, a side with the aid of the second-A. M. Alves, L. J. Guterres, F. A. sary, has the desire for points IS NOW IN THE DEFENCE RE-member of a club with a really in-command, Lt. Col. E; J. R. Prata, P. A Yvanovich, A. V made them the grim affairs that SERVE. THEN WHY NOT AN good ground might never play Mitchell, who is attached to H.Q. Gosano, A. J. M. Prata and F. M.

CRICKET. LEA-[on that ground-but what odds-and is thus not eligible for any one Soares. some would have us' belleve? In INTER-UNIT

a good many of his company.

-No. 7 Company-J. Bárrow. point of fact the necessity of win- GUE MATCHES PLAYED ON he plays

̈Mobile: Column-J., H. Fox, C. ning outright in order to keep in SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS? matches away under the old sy- I am not aware of the com

position of the Training Cadre but, Champelovler, W. J. Mills, G. G.,. the running for honours has re- It is not suggested that the stem in any case. ...sulted in cricket of a brighter or Volunteers should organise the The question of equipment could having, regard to their numbers Aitkenhead, E. O. Murphy, J. R. der than is aver seen in a friend- League or that organisations other be left to units. It would not cost and from a personal knowledge Way, W. Stoker, V. C. Bond, N. ly when the result one way or than Volunteer units be barred a great deal to lay in a stock of of cricketers in it, I feel that they H. B. Whitley, N.. D. Booker,

Burch. another does not really matter. from competing; rather that the three bats, three sets of pads and would be well able to take part Ainslie, D. O. Parsons and L

A. 8. C. Company - It then it is accepted that Lea League should cater. primarily for a cricket bag, and I am certain in the League.

that clubs, would not object to There are other, units, possibly, gue Cricket is desirable, what Volunteers, would be the best method of or-There may be one or two clubs their stumps and ground staffs that I have not mentioned, who Baskett, L. W. Tipple, W. Hyde, would be able to take part, but F. I. Zimmern, J, A. Fisher, H. ganising it in the best interests of who have not a Volunteer being used."

from what information is avail-A. Waller and L. A. R. Duncan. the game locally?

able there appears to be no real." Field Ambulance-L. T. Ride, A fellow cricket scribe has for but I.R.C, and University are the

reason why an Inter-Unit: Lea-A. M. Rodrigues, L. W. Hume, R. some years past bomoaned the only two to come to mind. There? lack of new Public Schobl talent would be nothing to prevent such All other expenses would be on gue should not be a great suc- Leigh, R. Baldwin, R.S. GILL, D. Crary, HE, Strange and H. F. from Home and to that he has at-clubs entering the League but it the pro rata basis, clubs allowing cess.

As regards poșalble participants Shields. tributed the poor standard, now would necessarily be on the chit-signing facilities for refresh=i

majority on their membership list,

Expense Problem Easily Overcome