1960-11-18 — Page 9

Page

Yesterday we asked the question :

CRICKET Is cricket dying? We proved that if

the answer is in relation to county

club membership and attendances

SURVEY it is NO. Yet today we find in the

tempo of the game that the answer might well be YES.

Brighter play? It's slowing

1

down to a standstill

The tempo of both Test and county cricket, over the years, has shown decline. Contrary an unmistakable

to common belief batsmen are not wholly to blame.

The main culprits are the fielding sides. Batsmen are being starved of overs, and fewer de- liveries are being bowled per hour and per day.

In 1930, when England played Australia at Lord's, the bowlers managed an average of 132 balls every hour. In 1939 England and the West Indies completed 121

at the Oval.

In 1048 England and Infla rose to 138 at Lord's. But in 1956 at Lord's, between Eng. land and Australla, the figure was down to $7. It was even worse-81-in Australia Fo

103

1958.

In the Lord's Test in more overs were bowled in buch of four days than in any pinga day in the last MCC series.

the West Indies,

Up and down

t:1

With five-day Tests at home, and six abroad, the public are thus being deprived of a day's play either by deliberate mi wasting tacties or thoughtless

TICES.

So much for Tests. In county cricket the position is not much better. Any balanced altark should comfortably reach 20 overs per hour,

Somerset, who strike the highest rate, and Gloucestershire frequently average as much as 24. Others un to no better than 17.

Between the wars telding

JESSOP

V

DEXTER

were able to reach at least 30. In 1921, at the Oval, Northamp- tonshire renched that target although Surrey made 0186 for 5..

They improved to 21 an house 321 when Sussex hit them for at Hove in 1930, Seven years later, at Hove, Lancashire score 640 for 8 flestared and Sussex bowled 23 overs an hour.

Yet in 1958 the general rate was down to 18,

The fastest scoring season was 1911 when 54 runs came from every 100 deliveries. In 1921 the date decreased to 51, and it was down to 41 in 1931,

poor summer In respect.

J

Report by ALEX BANNISTER

Statistics by ROY WEBBER

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1960.

Year

and touring Jaum

1953 (A)

開貼車

100 ball

and Attend

scored ver

Balis kawind sock

Matcher played

bawlad

KONIGH

WON DRAWN

Attendances at Cously Championship matcher

Gakero! weather conditions

44.69

-502911 - ··173 · ··198

1,645,156

Average

1954 (Pak)

43.50

479505

.162 144

1,407,571

1955 (SA)

43.76

524809

1228 01

1,640,565

1956 (A)

42.65

4787*2

169 145

1,174,079

1957 (WI)

44.38

506260

208 109

1958 (NZ)

42.07

449002

1959 (India)

1960 (SA)

46.61 42.87

564403 537617

181 128 219 98 190 134

1,197,979 983,820 1,369,673 1,046,104

Wet Fine Average Fine

Wat

Excellent

Below average.

the crense for more than throu hours. Eleven of his centuries were completed inske ua hur - feet last accomplished by Cyril Poole, of Nottinghamshire, In 1940.

Learie Constantine, of the West Indies. møde his runs at 79 an hour, and Middlesex's Jim Smlih, tall-end slogger, at the amazing speed of 109,

50 in 11 minutes

Once he hit 50 in 11 minutes. Several others were able to get their runs throughout Jong careers faster than at a run A minute.

The

CONSTANTINE

70 run an hour

most dashing modern batsman is Ted Dexter, the Su-county programme and playing ter caniem, H overall rate is only at weekends. between 30 and 40 an hour.

It is generally accepted that 2 runs an over is a talr scor- lag rate. Thus, if four overs

By this the cast of mid-week are subtracted every hour be

games, which have little return. cause of slowness by the bowlers

would be avolded, and more and elders, it means the loss of

Introduced amateurs could be standard day of

E runs in a jurs.

How could an extra, four overs nheur be bowled?

Many believe the answer to would cricket's main problems be found in remodelling the

1: would be done by more CHESS

fald

saving Ave seconds per delivery si ton seconds as the change cvm.

.

Ch, for Jessop!

It is true that the batsman of today has to contend with better Held placings, instant and of break bowling, which cramps his freedoms, and time wasting

But he is Jogg venturesome, and the game has measurably suffered from the virtual die- appearance of the ground-Alting slogger and the selentlfie hitter.

Gilbert Jessop the most made famous English bitter. everybis runs at an average of 89

an hour.

By 1939 the rate was back tu 46. 1 was down to 43 by 1950,

eidos, even witen overwhelmed. and 42 last senson..

Four D. Jones JONES IS CARRIED

BY 'MADDOCKS

{SHOULDER-HIGH BY

THE CHEERING CROWO ALL AMAZED AT HIS |

VICTORY OVER THE BULL...

HAIL THERA,

INN KEEPER, LAYON

A FEAST FOR

„OUR HERO......

He scored 53 centuries, includ ing ive doubles, and only oneo in his entire career was he ti

11'S ALREADY LAID ON, MATE. THE BULL DIED OF SHAME \~=sowacOCKEDITS,

HOW'S THE COLD BULL,

THEN, JIM?

by LEONARD BARDEN

**

ETA

16926)

Here is a position won by the Russian world championship contender. Paul Keres (Black, to move). Black to play and win.

Lesson Express Service.

DOING VERY

NICELY, JUST WAITING

FOR THE PEAS TO JHAW

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to county cricket. In olher words, a system identical to that in Australia and South Africa,

}

County crickel, therefore, would be played on Sundays it the law of the land could be changed to allow a gate to he taken.

The Cup plan

From the beginning of May until the end of August there ore 18 weekends during which ecunly crickel can be played The first Saturday is over- shadowed by the Cup Final, and the last two by the opening of the Soccer season,

Five others would bek- fluenced adversely in attendance by Test matches.

twa

would be reinined if only home matches a month could be guaranteed-weather permitting

nd probably at only centre.

Our inquiries round the counties show little enthusiasm for this proposal.

There is, however, growing support for a Cup competition-- the weather and prrears of matches is the great deterrent- and perhaps enlivening the championship by dividing it into two sections with promotion and relegation, as successfully prat- tised in South Africa's Currie Cup.

In our inquiries we have found cricket in a self-critical mood. That in itself is a good thing. We feel there is ifttle wrong in the game that cannot be righted by the players them- selves.

They hold the key to the game's future by their attitude and approach. It is a simple

ox that.

Sports Diary

TODAY

Badminion Ladies" "A" Doubles: CYMCA, V Recreio.

Meeting Jongkong Chinese Football Asso- elation Selection Commitice meetin CAAF Bldg, 0 pm.

TOMORROW

Soccer "Aw live" Cup: Replay All-Hong- krong v Singapore, HKC Stadium,

psn.

ad Division: Koon Wun v Five- One-Seven (Cil) 2.30 pm: St Joseph's

CAA (CH) n Yuen Long v

Most counties spread their home matches Over several grounds to give as many of their gymnastle (Sek Kong)" 4 pm; members as possible a chance of Prisons Talkoo (Stanley) 4 pm: seeing their side without travel- Wat v Telepione iv) 4 pm.

3rd Division "A" Port Onico V ing far. It is extremely unika- Jardines (HV) 2.30 mni Kin Godown

Jorge ly that

memberships v Dodweй (BV) 2.30 pm; 33 & 3 v Telephone (V) 250.pm; Mackinnon Tung Bing (HV) 4 pm: Preventive Service v C de W (TV) * pm,

Sheaffer's

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