1956-09-17 — Page 4

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1956.

LINDWALL IS OUT

BUT WHY DOES THE UMPIRE SAY NO?

THE STORY SO FAR

V

Final Test at The Oval. Private detective Francis Quarles is there to see the first day's play as the guest of Dr Gregory Kano. Leo Maclean the radio commentator, is waiting in the broadcasting hut. Umpire Charles Bowerman, with a reputation for occontricity, has a few ill-tampered words with his fellow umpire, Jack Petty. Earlier, Bowerman had a row with his wife, then mado a mystorious appointment to see someone in the lunch interval. Now he puts his computer--for counting the number of bails in àn ovor-in his pocket. All is zot. Poter May wins the toss-and guts the Australians in

T

HERE is something

awe-inspiring.

for the lover of cricket, about the pavilions on any of England's half- dozen most famous grounds. Here are

the portraits of long ago, there are the balls and hats with which Lock- wood and Richardson and Rhodes, Grace and Jessop and Hobbs performed feats that are part of cricket Francis Quarles legend. was suitably impressed by

THE OVAL TEST MURDER

by JULIAN SYMONS

All charactors in Tho Oval Test Murder story --apart from the players -aro entirely fictitious

the relics in the pavilion at boot, raising it, and flicking off

Oval the

and admired

an imaginary piece of dirt, be- particularly the big picture, fore shaking his head. painted in 1910, which

"That must have been cluse," said. "That umpire's

shows players and specta- Quarlen tors, many of them famous Bowerman, isn't it and all immensely serious, standing outside pavillon.

A good view

HE And riot.

Austrations have suffered a good deal from him, but now IP's the turn of the English bowlers....

Players

and umpires oat lunch together. Bowerman ale its staring straight in front of him speaking to nebody. Later he wal info the bar for a

drink, and found himself standing by Leo Maclean.

"Hello Bowerman," the com- Tell me, is it mentator said, true that the next time

you turn down on appeal you're going to whistle the overlure to "The Barber of Seville' to show your disgust? If so, I'd illte to broadcast the news,"

Bawerman gave Maclean long look. "You can just go to hell." He drained his glass and turned away. When he return- ed to the umpires room Petty already had his white coat on."

Tine we were out on the

Yes. You know he's famous the for the recentele way be turns feld." down appeak. That's just one of us le tracks Says gives lum time to think, but it eer- tainly infuriates bowlers.

however, much lime lo spare for anything but the enekel At lunchtime four

Australian wickets had fallen for sixty-five runs, and the struggle between determined batamen and bowlers exploiting a wicket that su.ted

www Easy Joined.

ป

a good batsman, We tried out

Annoyed him

"Used to be

POWERMAN began to put on you know Tests and found wanting. Pretty his cent, but stopped abrupt

ty. "You've got my coat."

otrakh

character, l'ai Patient of mine, one of the few I've kept on. My word, look at that,"

Jeck Petty was a good-natured man, but this annoyed him. This time it was an appeal for

fool "Don't be a

man, a catch at the wicket by lock,

I'm a Evans and half the team. This wouldn't me

taller than you.” Lane they could see Bowerman's Quarks had wanted

whistle. Then,

*50

are." you bencies bus pursed in a watch fre un

after what seemed a long time, grunted. "That's funny." mutride the pavilion, gory Kane stred him 11 at the came the shake of the head.

"What do you mean?" Rav

od il

yout know what Bhu savure comfort- whistles

Iro when

doesn'! "Doesn't matter." He put on think much of an appeal?" Kane the ecat and they walked slow- jched

asited with a chuckie. “Tell Me ly together down the

payition the Old Old Story.

steps.

and wire

They

huth

ble. losis, rather like these at which one sits in a snack bar, and got → good view of the gly. At one loud appeal of Lock's Keith Miller was pud.

101 on

when

The

Up alive them Leo Muckcan was saying with relisic "Umpire

1 doing his whist the ampare went through Bowerinafi

Thus ting act upsản. In the past the

a great net of looking at

play after lunch fell into the pattern of the morning. Up in his box Leo Maclean was talk- ing

· "Now Laker comes up to bowl do Lindwall, with the score mirty-four for seven. And the question still is Will this wicket. improve, or is it going to

worse and leave England with

fourth innings on a real glue-

Laker do Lindwall again to a nice catch by Colin Cowdney nd he's caught. Yet, hoe's out

in the short leg position. But wait a minute what's that? It it is-umpire can't be-yes,

has given him Bowerman

nrt

looked to me. Dut. A perfectly good catch, it Now you can bear the crowd roaring. Thou- sands of people are on their feet shouting. I've never seen

nything ilke it,"

>

Unprecedented

ND, indeed. it was a scene unprecedented in the history of the Oval, Thousands of people were on their feet roaring out their disapproval of the decision. In front of Quarita and Kane, people outside the pavillen were standing up and calling out.

On the field play was held up. Ray Lindwall, uncertain what had happened, leaked up of his partner Keith Miller and at the players round him. Cowdrey held up the bali to show that he had caught £1. Laker stood with hands on hips, looking at Bowerman, Jack Petty strolled

10 In talk

his fellow across umpire.

"What was wrong with patch?

that

THE STRANGEST DECISION EVER Sir Edward

“MADE AT THE OVAL.

"Laker to Lindwall agam – and he's caught.

to a los catch by Colin Cowdrey at short lez.

minate what's that?”

Yes, he's out But walt a

a

"It's not too late to change Bawermza

"I suppose I'd your decision, Charlis,” Petty better go and have a look said.

him. After all, lie is my patient." "Don't they have a doctor in lendance?"

Bowerman glared at him, and

There swayed slightly.

was sweat on his forehead. "Are you telling me what to do? I say not out. Over."

Eyes closed

Bowerman

been taken

Leaves Kew With An Unsolved Problem

WHAT WILL THEY DO WHEN THE TREES. DIE?

By Romany Bain

10

Sir

serious

London, to cảmke the general effect. TEVER write down "The postcards we have of views to your public," much better than those of

Individunt plante," - said counselled tho Edward. It was obviously a dis- Bent best-selling author, tapping his untidy desk with a

was poetically brought silver stiletto. He looked up on Mr Palgrave I imagined exactly, like Alex Guinness tac time would be especially disguised as the director of well-attended. But Sir Edward.

disillusioned me. a botanical garden in an:

As

he said.

Ealing film. Which isn't she take the line in their surprising,

this is

tho daffodi It appears that exactly what he is. I was drifts, the magnolias, the rhodo speaking to Sir Edward dendrons, the cherries, and lastly the autumn tinta,' as the Salisbury, 70-year-old direc- director called them, were top tor of the Royal Botanic of the popularity poll. Gardene at Kew,

He was reticent about his own Lavourites.

ites. Adler meditating for professor of London Univer- a few moments on the

ся-

Indian un- bean outside his window, he sity, and author of an expected best-seller on the admitted "a slight partiality for a distilce, of scented flowerz scientific background of double bar and

but that was as eminent

would As ant

ecologist, which well-read frousewife

1

Ten waited

every

as he

I had tracked him down knows is the study of the home to his private office in spite been the ideal man for the job, Hie of plants, Sir Edward has

"But I've only bowled three

KANE shook his head. "You'll balls," Laker said.

hear them asking for one "Over," Bowerman repealed. over the loudspeaker in He began to walk unsteadily in minute. Would you like to come gardening

of square leg, up?" the direction singgered slightly and fell. And

had now trom the crowd all round the ground come a long-drawn into the English players' dress- wich. People sat down. Every g-room. His eyes were closed. The is face flushed., his breathing explained. thing

He heavy and irregular. Quarles of gate constables and tor- For he and his staff can provide umpire had not gone mod. was dimply 11.

watched while Kane felt pulse rential rain, which was a home from homo in a de- tached, freehold, centrally heat- and heart and pulled back eye-making the meteorological of gasheuse good enough for gadgets on his lawn work any plant from the Equator to Carried off

overtime.

the Pole. Upstairs in his study, aged "I doubt it." Kane said slow-sepia prints of Royal Kew was talking. "He was a pretty fit man. before nationalisation L'excredly: "Now the English No record of blood pressure. We ofthe bound books about in 1841.

was

EO MACLEAN

It looked clean enough to me at square leg.

"Square leg. ch?" Bower man's voice was thick. "I was Bailey at the bowler's crud,

the whole thing.”

Бан

head

Bowerman

bail.

Peter May and half the Eng; and had come up lish team

Listening fo the two were umpires. It is strictly forbidden to argue with the umpire, but Apart from a shert, spark at these words an angry murmur It was Kelth ing knock by Richie Bensud, could be heard. who hit three tours und nax Miller who spoke. befere being bowled by Laker. "That

ball. no bump umpire, Ray got an edge to 1. thathway up the bat,"

been

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E

What's

da.

"Is it a stroke?" he asked.

face

at

10.

and

Re-rooted

But

have been

다.

think

The Amazonian lily with Hả players, Peter May and Trevor ought to get him to hospital nora

the Calabash in distant parts lined the 6ft. leaf span, and Tony Lock, havo

right away, they can examine

nutmeg, and even all those re-. walls, lifted umpire Bowerman and him properly there.

I guess !

There had been only eleven kilves

the of the pineapple are carrying him off.

of us in mace and plastic pixie guidebook loceps harping on,

to hardly know they yet, but I don't think there's "If you were in any doubt wrong with him we don't know ought to go in with him."

"You're thinking more than hoods walling for the gates it. Bump "No doubt about

That

орст iliness doubt

must

But Sir Edward re-rooted. any

you're saying. Greg." Quaries leaned back in his chair have been the reason for this

tony of the million and conjured up sunnier days.

sightseers who annually last decision, which is one of the said. "What do you suspect?"

"On a balmy Sunday we have via the Gardens may strangest I've ever seen.

The dolor's handsome

"I'm not certain had 70,000 people," he told me. Kew exists solely for their en- was grave.

"Usually between Easter

would be and joyment,

They "I can't remember any occa- But the pupils are dilated. Pulse sion on which an umpire has almost uncountable. It could be Whitsun is our busiest period," wrong. Every shrub and flower

he

But said.

this the Aeld polson." Ill on

the is part of vast botanical,

Gi a vast year taken

1'11

weather has been against them. identification parade, so that the during a Test match, but

there have staf Even on good days

and can accurately name just ask our statistical expert if

a mere 27,000." been

or preduce any specimen Ilving can remember.... he

The great majority of us dead from any land:

"We are..the owners ' go to Kew for three Doctor Kane get off his high

of the and foest collection of dried plants scat reluctantly as they brought

in the world," said Sir Edward proudly, Mand we have "four museums 60,000 volume Ubrary

(COPYRIGHT)

Tomorrow: Who

LOGAN GOURLAY (on location in

The Umpire?

Poisoned

pitbs

pennyworth of relaxation,

Genoa) hears

about the night the party got a bit rough JUST GREGARIOUS-

THAT'S VICTOR

Was

ICTOR MATURE

in residence on the first floor of the Hotel Columbia Excelsior here.

up

and a

涟

laboratory back, i

that

It would be pretty difficult to convince these botanista you had discovered a new kind of puce dandelion on Clapham Common it you made a note of its appearance and then throw it away.

Unless a plant la deposited in a botanical museum to have its credentials checked, and to bo sure there is no duplicate, it has no officia) existence at all." raj Not official.

"She's kinda nervous, that's

Just nervous.”

Of course

Genoa. movie. When we were in Ronio The three girls who had been

last week we were doing the siting silently sipping their all.

you may be right Istanbul scenes. Kinda crazy, drinks listening to the music But that's the way movica are and

It seemed as good a moment about your new dandelion, but contemplating Mature,

tivero are already made.

asked if they'd be doing any, us any to nak. if he was stut remember work tomorrow. They are looking for a wife. The divorce over 7,000,000 dried specimens "Sull this one's going working as extras and stand from his second about three in the Herbarium at Kew that pretty well. It's got lo. I've ins on the film.

years ago cost about $600,000 other people have found first alimony.

act as a giant Botanical percent of the profts. got 25

Inquiry Bureau, with 100 queries And I'm guaranteed

"Sure 1 am. Every guy's arriving at one post,"

Sir Ed minimum of $170,000."

lookin' for a wife."

I had been told by an actor, who was probably envious, that Mature had taken over the whole of the

first floor. A report which embroidered the facts.

"I don't know, honey. a look at the call sheet."

Take

I congratulated him.

It was passed round. It said But nothing about the girls, "Yeah, I'm doin' all right, among the items listed for the But I'm not getting to be props department to provido

With the taxes, were aspirins, lee bags, and' Mature has an entourage, but millionaire.

you're dead. You gotta be in balloons. which that is something

busines

makin' these self-respecting Hollywood star

capital gains. Or in oil. would travel without,

no

big

One

"No, I've never made a cent Не was installed In suite with rome of the entour in oil. I've got a TV business A age and others were occupying selling scis and appliances.

Outside of that adjacent rooms. For Mature is a lousy business, gregarious animal-"I just don't nothing. I gotta keep workin' like to be alone." (Why do in the movie,”

TO THE TOMBS?

from

One of the girls, Vers, a pretty

brunolle Rome, stood up and said she was going to the cinema.

graveyard.

most Hollywood stars, with one I inquired about his own inde- "O.K.. honey," said Mature, notable exception, hate to be pendent flim company which he "I may go to the alone?)

has blithely named M.G.M. They tell me that's a must for

the visitors. What a town.. At this moment he was in no Jun. danger of being alone. In **I know there's that other "Walter. We need more ice- fact it was a little like that big

company; Maybe we'll and cigarettes.” celebrated scene in the Marx have to change the name......... But

Alm. Brothers'

Everyono, was what the hell. My old man's "Ha handed Verna 500-1tre crowded into this sitting-room. Initials aro M.G.M.

note (which is worth about 0.), at it dubiously: And it was a tiny silting-room.

She looked "I've got another movia to do "Keep It, honey, It's a present. for Warwick, who are making. Buy yourself some candy at the this one, Interpoll May start cinema," our Arst Aim for M.G.M. "Jun. in February, 2

MOUNTAINOUS

"Except those who've them," I mild.

ward

tolth

me, Manufacturers

want to know if acacia thorns got we

for gramophone are suitable needles or toothpicks, Orvets Before I could apologise for send soeds from dead animals the

weak remark he said: stomachs to find out if they are "That's very profound, that is, poisonous," M

But Sir But I

Edward's two I guess you've got one.

favourite haven't and I get, lonely..

„requests diérom :: two optimists were for the seeds of He looked at the two remain.... a scedicas tomato, and, tho, soods ing girls but he didn't propose of a yow tree that would grow to them.

into the shape of a

When he leaves * Kew The fairish one, who was September 30 after 13 years, his called Lee and who was of Red achievements will remain in the

who Gardens. The Indian ancestry and

she wrote poetry one claimed that

most impressive is the Paluminium-built was talking to the press agent

iri the corner About Jean Australian House opened in

1949, am tire most

· Cocteau and Tennesten Willams,

lams que, is his "Wisteria mo The darkish one said to me which to personally designed In a Mayfair accent: "I'm from so that the blooms would grow. Scotland, ice you, My name'a downwards. Rima, but you can call me by And there is also the my second name, Allen, After Garden; which though not o Alisa. Craig.

SENSATION

Kriens-the one in the Hoy.

has been running, since 1944, and has some very no Stinking Hellbore for anyone Haroid, -the sland-In,

who likes that kind of thing, AT Mountainous Mature- oft,

whispered to me: "That's Vic. Mature moved over to the His 52-year-old successbe,

George Taylor,

Botanical Keeper. Zin., 14st., cinemascople- "I'd like to do 'Cain and Abel," Generous, A great character.

record-player" which was the British Museum: und) chested almost nijed it filmself. But Ivs a tough story to put on Always handing his money threatening to stop AS

Even Ceell B. Do around.. His stand-in, another mountain the screen

là do anything for

rockery enthusiast from Ricks said it WDS of course, was there too, plus Mille

nearly him. T

"Have you heard this new mensworth, has one big problem rock 'n' roll guy, Elvis Presley? ahead that Sir Edward halua his prets agent, myself, and impossible, three girls from his new flim "I'd love to do it though, Ha, showed me an ugly bruise Elvis the Pelvis. He's a sansa falled to solve,

tion back home,, Lliter to this,” on his prins

b. Ho put on a record of Elvis

scheme

ד'

fortunately less mountainous. These tulbileal stories have been had a party, up here the the Boyvie singing-Do, anything

A waller very alim, wedged his way in every five of 10 minutes with food,, cigarettes, drinks, and fee cubes.....

good for me.".

HIS EXERCISE

other night," he said, and one to me, honey, but don't tread on of the girls got a bit wild. my blue suede shock Wam't Vic's fault at all, it is think thats what it was The bella in the steeple just He stood up and stretched too fresh so she upped and Mature swayed to the

she thought I was getting called ATARAMASSEY FE

rhyth outside clanged deafeningly. his tree trunk arms. For heaved a coffee table at me, trapped Every 10 minutes they clanged moment I thought he was going Then she sturbed to throw shouted: "do, min, sor

For crying out loud souled to push down the walls of the things, out of the window. I've been around, setors and Mate drive you nuts, Turn up he could perform a feat of they were mine,

Wisten to them bells, tiny room and demonstrate that Clothes and things. She thought stars tong enough to: katów They'd

they when I should LED) a (sua vi thecord-player, honey, good strength without the trick

Croats ho had ir Samson and or Vice 1 don't think t

With the

blar

he got I went player will Delilah ?

Terrible.

Kirting!! hiut instead he 6" poured "hima) too,vice Danish, Her:"name's word "on" solp another long drink of scotch Ulla, or something." A stand÷IN

don't live

of providing for, the

bew

dens Archerte for lanting area for saplingói: 31 teas rounder of Bion > Hougiem. through) at Art Nhant because the Government it could not spendthe

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