1940-07-25 — Page 14

Thursday,

HONGKONG, TELEGRAPH

July 25, 1940.

Preparation Of Wickets

Commercialised Cricket And Test Matches Demand Durability

Lawn Bowls

OMARS WIN

Minu Brothers Trounced In Open Pairs

A. M. Omar and U. M. Omar, Lawn Bowls Championship in 1937,

FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS after cricket's "discovery," the spin of a coin determined not winners of the Colony Open Pairs only the right to bat first but also the right to entered the third round of this year's select the pitch. By 1774 a revision of rules con- championship yesterday, when they forred both privileges on the visiting side. In 181638-0 on the Civil Service Green. the toss again decided the innings and the piros pitched the stumps.

trouneed A. I. Minu and A. K. Minu

The Omurs were at their best and

um-scored a seven on the 9th head to

Before 1816 the selection of the wicket was generally deputed to the best bowler.

It is recorded of one of the greatest bowlers of the day that his passion for shooters caused him to choose his ground so that; he might pitch on a downward slope. That the turf was not prepared, in the manner familiar in obvious.

now

Only one rule operated. The arca chosen had to be within 30 yards of a centre determined by the adversaries.

experience and essential to those on the border line of test cricket.

BREACH OF LAW

IN New Zealand test wickets are

uncovered as is provided for inj the laws and wickets are covered in Shield matches a Bagrant breach of the law and of the principles of cricket.

The wickets to-day are considered to be a menace to the game and likely to deprive cricket of much of its spectacular interest. The crites say that the preparation of wickets LAWS UNTOUCHED

bus improved to such an extent that bateninn receives major con- FOR almost 100 years after the the

first laws were published the sideration. pitch remained untouched from be- ginning to end of the match. In 1840 permission cane for the pitch to be swept and rolled at the start of each Innings. In 1883 similiar permission was authorised at the start of each

play:

<tay's

To some extent this is correct. Until the end of the lost century wickets and their preparation was n matter of little concern, but over the last nity years aspect of the name has demanded of groundsmen more devoted study of

the financial

secure. a commanding lead of 17-3, They led 20-8 on the 17th end and finished up with a burst of 3, 0, 2 on

the last three heads. The Minus scored on only seven heads.

A. B. Minu and Heads A. M. Omar and

A. H. Mintt U. M. Omar V

ILK. UNIVERSITY GRADUATE'S

SINGAPORE TENNIS WIN

Strangely enough the wicket was turf conditions and preparations. pore Recreation Club's tennis singlen

The wicket must be capable of not protected against rain unt!! 1013. over 160 years after the first laws retaining those qualities best suited were drawn up. Then it was per- to aid batsmanship from the first to snitted only to cover the ends to the lust

the bowler receives easue the bowlers foothold and the batsman standing ground. The cover-tle thought except in the sense ing of the whole pitch 24 hours bo-that the wicket essentially must not the bowler to become n Lore the match or before the first allow ball was bowled was nuthorised In physical mennee. 1025.

be in

EASY AND LIFELESS

wickets of thirty or forty years ago were equally as good

In England the wicket may THE completely covered on the Sunday

a week-end malel, the covers to be as those of to-day Wickets have removed at 7 am. on the Monday, not improved to the extent some wat or fire. Except as provided for

Dr. G. F. de Souza, former Hond- kong University tennis champion and graduate, has again won the Singa- championship, Dr. De Souza is the nephew of E. L. de Souza, M.B., of St. John's Hall, Hongkong University.

6

Sea Biscuit's Career

Bought By C.S. Howard- Wins 11 Of 15 Races Becomes Handicap King

(Second. Chapter)

By Jack Guenther

ARCADIA, Cal. (UP).-The life of the cham- pion actually began at four,

Seabiscuit ran for two years under the banner of the Wheatley stable in Florida, Maryland, New York, Mas- sachusetts and Rhode Island and he ran at many tracks. But while he ran 47 races he won only nine" of his starts, so he was sold to C. S. Howard with no regrets. He was simply cast off because his owners didn't believe he was good enough to earn his hay in a first class barn.

to There was no one to see the He came up from eighth

the hiatrin Was Ave tront. The Biscuit off when the man known second and then he went to as Silent Tom Smith led him

lengths breezing at the end, and the time was 1130 flat-one of tho through the tree-lined walks of

best mile marks of the year. Saratoga and placed him on a freight car for the first time,

Up and up he went, against better but there was something and better horses. When he passed symbolic about the departure. his fourth birthday on Jan. 1, 1937, For on that day the Biscuit be- he had won five of 11 roces under Pollard's gnarled hands, and when gan his climb, and on dozens of South Africa v. England ended in a

be was unloaded at Santa Anita note that at Durban the fifth test draw at the conclusion of the tenth occasions in the years to come Park for the first time he was on his day. The match had to be aban- Smith led him on dozens of cars way to fame.

of and sent him thousands done to allow the English team to

miles along the long, winding catch the boat for home.

road that finally carried him to

USE OF "DOPE"

would lend us to believe. The dif- No wicket can be turned out the top of them all.

In a week-end match the covering ference lies in the fact that present- wickets have become engy- after the first ball has been bowled day must not protect, more than 3 feet paced and lifeless, brought about

6 inches in front of the popping, through a desire to keep the match "allye" for the allotted number of crense,

WICKET PREPARATION

IN the beginning the preparation of

·ket.

days:

SCIENTIFIC PREPARATION LTHOUGH the condition of the

ܐܐܢܶܐ

well without ample rolling and the use of water. Methods of preparation are governed by local conditions. The use of "dopo" (liquid anaro or chemicals) is not universal; but "dope" is freely used at Kensington Oval.

Three months before actual play-

the pitch was of secondary con-wicket is lo-day the most con- alderation. Natural wickets existed in the true sense. Commercialised traversial topic at a gathering of ing time the wicket is selected and cricket demanded wickets with true cricketers, it is strange how little is given its first mowing, Germinated surface and tasting qualities. Methods known of the scientifle basis of seed is then planted in spots around of protection to minimise delay grars-wicket composition and pre- the pitch of the ball as the grass must be of even texture; otherwise owing to rain were introduced, and paration.

analysis of turf variety of pace and life would result. Generally the artificial drying of the wicket is

Elght days before the match the soil contains the following. now permissible even in the jealous wicket soi ty-guarded atmosplicre of test cric-substances clay, coarse sand, one "dape" is prepared and placed in a sand, allt, organic matter. The most tank of water for mixing. It is then The financial aspect of the game important factor of all is the per- applied to the wicket overnight tias not so far robbed cricket of one centage of clay. It is essential that leaving the surface a reddish-brown

turf wicket

should be hard in colour), and watered in, The uncer- of its greatest charms.

Twenty-four hours after the op- rofusal of the M.C.C. to allow tolc-days of hot, dry weather.

ralled with the heavy roller for one Lets to be completely covered at all

hour and this is repeated, with the Fimes.

weight being gradually decreased, every day, until fifteen minutes be- fore the start of the game, the creuse is marked out and the wicket is ready for play.

tainty of cricket is protected by the order to wear well through fourcation of the "dope" the wicket is

The Melbourne wicket, one of the best in Australia, has 60 per cent. of clay. Kensington Oval another famous batsman's paradise has 67 per cent.

In Australia local rules permit this to be done in Sheffield Shield cricket. Many contend that batsmen are de- prived of the opportunity of playing The wicket at Durban possesses under adverse conditions, a valuable 60 per cent, and it is interesting to

CHARITY WORKER NEARLY

They shipped first to Detroit, and Johnny Seabiscuit

given to was Pollard, a thin, nervous jockey with and flaming red hair. Seabisculi Pollard carried the rustling red and white Howard silks on a track the first time on August 22 and they finished fourth behind some things named Myrtlewood, Prof. Paul and Gristrate.

He won, theti be lost, but on Feb. 27 he went against Rosemont in the $100,000 Santa Anita handi- cap. In dils richest race in the world, the Biscuit's reputation was made.

"Hard Luck Kid"

E rolled, that sunny February day, and when the swipes gather around the barns in the gloom of evening they'll tell you even now that if Red Pollard had stuck a rear view mirror on the Biscuit's car week later they came in third Rosemont would never have eaught and Anally, on Sept. 26, 1936, the him on that dual lunge to the wire. Biscuit won his first stake race-But catch him he did, in the very

Biscuit stride. The

missed a nose. The parade tons on last and it wasn't to end until the $00,000 by the margin of a postage. name of Seabiscuit became as stomp, and gained the name of the familiar as that of Jack Dempsey. "Hard Luck Kid."

bu

Proved Himself

FROM Detrol they went to River

Wherever he went thereafter they tried to make his job harder. They gave him 124 pounds, 120 and 120 but he wouldn't slow Downs, then back to New York.

down. They gave him 130 and Finally they began the long trip

133 and he laughed in their faces, West and in his Arst race at Bay Meadows, Seabiscuit proved himselfHe travelled by tras and he one hundred per cent horse. He was travelled in his private car-through left at at the post, but the little Tenforan, Bay Meadows, Aqueduct, grandson of Man O'War and Whisk Empire, Suffolk Downs, Narragan- Broom did not Jet his ancestors sett, Jamaica. Laurel, and Pimlico-

until his crimson blanket became the down.

symbol of courage on the tracks. Wherever he went he left new track records to remember. him by.

FAILS IN ORGANISING APPEAL

(THINKS) ONLY "ANOTHER FEW WEEKS AND YET THERE ARE SO. MANY DETAILS ← TO FIX UP

AT THE DOCTOR'S MARK

IN YOUR CASE ALSO-THIS HAS LED TO ANS EXCESS OF ACID WASTE PRODUCTS IN THE BLOOD. RECENT TESTS HAVE PROVED THAT HORLICKS AT BEDTIME IS WHAT YOU NEED

50

HORLICKS EVERY "NIGHT

MISS ATKINSON,

WILL YOU DEPUTIZE FOR ME AT THE MEETING OF THE

COMMITTEE TO-MORROW. I FEEL

1 SO TIRED AND

EXHAUSTED.

YES, BUT DON'T YOU THINK YOU OUGHT TO SEE DOCTOR?

-SIX WEEKS LATER

THE CONTRIBUTIONS EXCEED

LAST YEARS. TOTAL BYD

SEVERAL THOUSAND

THINKS

DOLLARS, THANKS}{ HORLICKS

TO OUR

ENERGETIC.

IS THE

SECRET OF ORGANIZER MY RENEWED

VITALITY;

DO YOU FEEL WORN OUT, DEPRESSED, OR NERVY? DO YOU EVEN AWAKE TIRED?

HOSPITAL WEEK

AT THE DOCTORS,

... I EVEN WAKE UP TIRED

YOUR TROUBLE IS NIGHT

STARVATION, YOU SEE, WHILE YOU SLEEP,YOUR HEART, LUNGS AND OTHER AUTOMATIC ¡PROCESSES CONTINUE USING

UP ENERGY.

DODTORS AND SCIENTISTS USE HORLICKS

IN HOSPITAL TESTS

RECENTLY esta were made in a great

hospital on men and women who com-

plained of always feeling tired.

It was found that these people had nii excess of acid waste products in their blood during sleep.

This acid waste kept the brain, and perves 'en edge all night even though the rest of.

the body was sound asleep.

Handicap King SEABISCUIT became five years old on Jan. 1, 1938, and he finished the year acclaimed as handicap king. He had won 11 of 15 starts against the best thoroughbreds of the year and he had earned $168,580 for the season.

son. This gave him a life mark of more than $210,000 and he skipped

past up

Crusader, Discovery, Whichone, Colin, Morvich, Rosemont, Omaha, Pompey and other greats on the money ladder.

So It was on his fifth birthday that racing men began talking of the Sun Beau mark. They have talked of little else since,

(Next Chapter tells of Beabiscuit's second defeat in the Santa Anita Handicap, but also of his great win over War Admiral).

(The next Chapter is the final one of Seabiscuit's career his winning of the Santa Anita Handicap and his creating a record for carnings).

Scottish

Football To Be Resumed

Recreational Relaxation

But when Horlicks" was given to thesa Considered Necessary

people last thing at night, this excess acid waste was completely neutralised. They woke refreshed, with increased energy and vitality.

Take HORLICKS

LONDON, July 24 (Reuter). Following receipt of information to the effect that semi-Government. quarters considered a resumption of football highly desirable, for the ra creation and relaxation of workers and men in the Fighting Services, a motion calling for the suspension of

withdrawi competitive football for the

THEN YOU WILL SLEEP SOUNDLY

The motion was called at a meeting WAKE REFRESHED of the Scottish Football Association AND HAVE EXTRA in Glasgow and regional Axtures were planned commencing on August ENERGY ALL DAY

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