1948-06-05 — Page 3

12

CRICKET ON THE OLYMPIAN HILL

'Do

You Bat, Mr Bradman??

By BRUCE HARRIS

the

Leary Constantine, Black Prince of cricket.field, has annexed the wicket of Dr W..G. Grace, the Immortal.

If the Doctor could be put into the witness-box he would plend a strong alibi, for he died in 1916, when Leary was running about in Trinidad as a boy of 13. Yet there the triumph is, printed in Leary's new book, Cricketers Carnival (Stanley Paul, 168.):

W. G. Grace, e Oldfield, b Constantine

And this is the manner of the great dismissal;

.67

"I am bowling to Grace....the ball only looks as if it had slipped; his whirling bat clicks the ball from its edge Instead of smacking it masterly from the centre of the face; the ball goes like a red flash over Oldfield's head,- but I see a leather glove rise like the hand of doom, the ball is in it, and I feel the Nunc Dimittis swell my heart, for I have got the Champion out fairly and squarely, caught behind wicket."

Time un- and place? Time

but the pitch was on "n apeclited, level terrace of the Olympian Hill in the presence of the High Gods of Cricket in the Golden Age." The rival sides--every man among them in his prime-The Contemporaries and the Old Timers. The match, in fact, in a fascinating decam such as would happen to a cricket lover like Leary.

The result? Here I feel that the author shows signs of funk for he makes it a tle! Contemporaries: 610 and 103; Old Timers: 435 and 544.

DERBY DAY

CO

Today in Derby Day. Race goers in England will flock to

Epsom Downs to watch a race in which there are now two hot favourites.

the

Centuries by Bradman, Headley, Hammond for the (relative) young 'uns; by Ranjitsinki (another vic- tim of Leary), Trumper and Hill for their elders. Be it noted that Contemporaries are not so very con- XI. captained temporary. Of the by D. R. Jarding, outy Bradman and Headley are still playing first-class cricket. Of the Old Timers under Grace only one, G. L. Jessop, is still hmong us.

as

With this high-fancy match the main theme of the book, there is any amount of gossip, opinion (very downright), stories of and friendship. 'sometimes even dash of scandal to entertain even that great match became trife tedious. For example:

feud

A

when

a

OF DON BRADMAN Just after he had scored 334 runs had in the Leeds test of, 1930 and

£1,000

an earned himself" admirer, Bradman was

from Introduced to a world-famous Cambridge don. little "He pushed his spectacles a further down his nose, stared mild-

These are Gackwar of Baroda's Myly and said to Bradman, 'I am most Indifferent flattered to meet you, sir. Ah, let Babu, sald to be an

slayer on a heavy track though his me see, do you bat or bowl?"

trainer does not think so, and Str

Gilea Loder's The Cobbler, offered at.

+

1 and 5 to 1 respectively,

The Cobbler will be ridden by

champion jockey Gordon

and My Babu by Jockey

Smirke.

Richards Charlie

OF CONSTANTINES FIRST ENGLISH TOUR OF 1923 "After an offelol

luncheon 10s. was served out to each of us with which to tip the waiter. For the tour we were being paid 30s. a Third favourite at 10-1 Is II. H.week cach, our hotel and travel, be- shillings was ย Aga Khan's French-bred colling paid, so ten

(I spent the

temptingly large amount. most My Love.

of

my spare time on that taur Both the Gackwar of Baroda and skalking in bea with the

blinds Sir Giles Loder will be hoping for down, not being able to afford much offered their first Derby Winner. H. H. the

elso). One of our players Khan will be hoping for his the walter seven and sixpence and third. He won in 1935 and 1936 with tried to keep half a crown: The

and Mahmoud respectively.

walter sour fellow, refused the seven Hottest favourite to win in the and six, and reported the delin- last 12 years was the Earl of Rose-quent to the manager of the team. berry's Blue Peter in 1930, quoted at Hell was raised, the player 7 to 2, and the longest shot to win rebuked, the half-crown handed the classic on the same period was

over with the rest of the money to Mr J. E. Ferguson's Airborne, a 50 the walter."

outsider, winner two years ago.

Ago

Bahram

to

Buy App

HOW DID AE GET IN HERE

CHAMELEON?

PRAGUE.

WRS

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1948.

SPORTS FEATURES CEYLON ATHLETES' CHANCES AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

By A. V. MAGNIL

A Magnanimous grant of Rs. 35,600 from the Ceylon Government, has in this year of our “independence, ensured Ceylon's flag a place among the flage of the nations at the march past which will mark the opening of the XIV. Olympiad.

The Ceylon Empire and Olympic Games Association has decided that this money should be utilised for the purpose of sending two athletes, two boxera, a manager and the Coach, and that donations should be called for from the public to enable two more from each branch of sport to be Be

་

theru

was selected for Bangalore were those who said that Kitto was past his primo and that at any rate his career in the army had told on his athletles.

However, the sporting public appears to be undecided as to whether to applaud and support that decision or not. It is not difficult to show that this attitude is not merely fallacious but that it is also entirely uninformed. Apart from the words of the great founder of the Olympic Games who said that the great thing about the Olympics is not to have won but to have participated in it, are wo not forgetting the plucky performances of earlier Ceylon teams that have gone abroad?

WESTERN ASIATIC GAMES Public memory is proverbially short, so let me take you back to 1934, when, Ceylon was represented by a team led by C. C. Dicasnanyake at the First Western Asiatic Games.

over dono

Senanayake who for the last four- teen years has held undisputed sway In the discus event and who at the trial meet hurled the discus nearly a foot more than he has before.

Senanayako also won the Putting the Weight event with a fine, throw of 40 ft. 24 Ins. It was obvious that he had trained assiduously and it was good to see him warming up before the event-two things he had not done before for some time now.

The outstanding athlete at the meet was Shirley Thomas who was person to win a triple the only crown. She was yards ahead of her

HEAVE-HO?

The tug-of-war at last week's RAF Sports at Kai Tak. Air Headquarters pulled. Signals over the line in the final,

In the 4 x 110 yards India's team consisted of R. A. Vernieux, E. S. Whitside (both of whom had done the 100 yards in 9.7 secs.).

Ceylon's team of 8 men won three rivals in the sprint events and set Broad new record in the Srst places, four second places and up a one third place.

Jump.

These performances, however, do compare well with those not of Indian girls in the corresponding events in the recent, Indian Olympic Mect held at Lucknow. But Shirley Thomas has been improving with each event and given good com petition and better conditions she is bound to do much better.

OF BODYLINE BOWLING "Jardine and Arthur Carr worked out the bowling and feld-setting that routed Australia in 1032-3, and

Sution and, Whiter clocking 0.8 they did. it quite cold-bloodedly in

and 0.0 secs. for the 100 had failed the grill room of a Piccadilly hotel before the tour began, using salt and to beat the world record by a frac- second in the heats and pepper-pots for men....Jardine was tion of a

rights perfectly within lus

Ile were confidently expected to lower never feared leg-theory bowling. the world record the finals. well remembered his making a cen- tury off mine. His answer Was what I feel Grace's might have been: "Never mind what they bowl, hit it! -

OF OUR FAILURE. IN

AUSTRALIA

T

"I have talked to members of the English side which went, on the last tour, and they say that some of the cramped nature of the English bat- ing was caused by fear of being umpired out, following bliter periences."

CX-

11

Yet it was Ceylon that came in Arst, beating this super team into second place and the excitement of the race was so intense that all five time-keepers failed to clock the Jace!

WHITE IN THE WRONG EVENTS Good as these performances were I think Ceylon's Olymple hopes lie In what may

ba termed the "failures", rather than the successes How this was achieved is a story at the recent meet. Ceylon's most of grit and courage_particularly on gifted and natural athlete, Duncan the part of H. G. Geddes who ran white, won both sprint events but the first lop for Ceylon and of a failed to achieve anything worthy of little luck by way of a baton by India.

+

dropped note.

INDO-CEYLON MEETS

even His times in both events under the adverse conditions were for the

holder

In the two Indo-Ceylon meets poor. It is necessary

to consider whether Hittle Ceylon pitted against India's authorities OF OUR SELECTORS

mighty resources of men and Duncan is not running in the wrong events and whether he should not "They do 80

material came off a good second.. like to have general utility men. Eleven excel- In the first meet she lost but by concentrate on the 400 m. hurdles. lent, earnest, brend-and-butter hard-

the 440 yards Avhile the second few points while In

once did Ladislav Kolar has a chance to working mediocrilles and nothing though losing by a bigger margin hurdles in a little over 55 secs, and be the only Czech to represent his

unusual if you please.'

she carried away all the honours, on that occasion he hesitated over and country In both the winter.

One small brick, perhaps a mere winning the "glamour events and almost every hurdle. He is the pre- half-brick, summer Olympics this year.

Leary has dropped. creating three Indian records. Kitto's cent All-India record

of nee speed Speaking of Marshal He is the country's

Surrey 100 metre sprint and II, M. P. the event with $4.9 recs. skater, but he is also one of the (Alan presumably) he says: "1 be- Perera's 400 metre run were the out-

Given proper coaching and good leading cyclists.

love he made 4,000 runs in one standing events of the meet.

cinder track training and a fast He recently

won the road race senson and took about 200 wickets."

At the Empire games in Australia there is no reason why, he should between Prague and Cesky Brod and is almost sure to get on the

Ceylon did not fare as well as she not turn in 54 secs. for the 400 m. cycling team th the Olympics ut

might have done but the was rather hurdles. unlucky in the matter of injuries.

What does this mean in terms of These meets were no doubt limited

international standards? Missont of the Olympics Italy has turned in 53,0 secs., while in their scope, while the best talents in 53

Filiput, Italy's second string, has his nations will compete for a place on best at 54.1 sec9. the victory stand.

of Sabolovic, sprint champion

holled as a now In assessing Ceylon's prospects it Yugoslavia, was would be fairer to compare the best discovery when he leapt over the Average

with the Ceylon available in 100.00

sticks in this event in 60 secs. and -04.87

standards set by the leading athletes spectators at the Olympic Meet.

London.

He is a member of the Slavia club of Prague Associated Press.

In what class of cricket? If first- class, then Denis Compton, after all, did not break any record with his 3,816 rum last season.

Here Leary might modify and re- peat cricket's most historic remark: **Sorry ductor, she slipped."

Australian Batting Averages

K. R. Miller

D. G. Bradman

W. A. Brown

S. Barnes

R A, Soggers

S. J. Loxton

A. L. Hasset

170

120.

60.00

Innings

Not out Rutts Highest Score

2

503

750

202. 187

075

200

73.00

520

74.28

138

• 104*

310

€2.00

313

110

44.71

A. Morris

301

138

96.10

I. N. Harvey

195

78*

R. A. Hamenco

210

02

32.50 30.00

150

80

26.33

Ian Johnson

119

50

23.80

D. Tallon

21.00

D. Ring

n. Lindwall

14.60 13.80 12.50

C. McCool

4.00

W:-A. Johnston

E. Toshack

75

Not out Tho averages do not include soores in the match now

going on against Hampshire.

Australian Bowling Averages

Overs

Maldens Runs

K. R. Miller

128.4

28

313

Wickets

20

Ian Johnson

143,4

30

380

C. McCool

113.2

270

Average 12.03 12.00 13.28

Bill Johnston

174.2

31

E. Toshack

180,5

420

15.75 10.15

A. Morris

17.00

R. Lindwall

B4

222

24.06

S. J. Loxion

30

27.00

D. Ring

137.6

20,30

'S, Barnes

34.4

30,00

A. Hamenco

different

in other countries. The recent trial

meet proved disappointing

In that

cover

At the recent Indian Olympic Meet Vazandar could only did not realise the high hopes the distance in 50.8 sec., while the which wcro kindled by wrong poorest qualifying time of the Berlin publicity tactics.

Nevertheless, there

were

some

Olymples in 1036 was 54.7 secE.

present It is unlikely that tho good performances in spite of the Olympic Games coming so soon after dimeuit conditions, G. D. Peiris who a prolonged war

will reach ·

for long seemed to be on the point heights attained at Berlin in 1930. of improving on his Hop Stop and

the

Jump record but never quite realised Add all this up and then tell me if expectations, at last sailed over 40 you still think that after the pre- ft. 0 in. to set up a new Ceylon Ilminaries Ceylon's athletic record,

will, strictly speaking, be merely

team

No doubt this does not compare spectators at the Olymple Meet. well with what is being done in One of the biggest fallures at the other countries. In Australia alone recent meet was Ceylon's sprint ace, George Avery (Australia's choice P.. E. Kitto. After being disqueii- for the Olympics in this event) 51 fled in the 100 m. for beating the ft, Lloyd Miller 48 ft. 21% ins, and starter, instead of the other com- four others have done over 40 ft. patitors he trailed in a bad fourth Ins; Vera of Argentina is reported to in 200 m. have cleared 40 ft. and H. Rebello

He was moving well in the first

of Mycore created a now All-India 150 metres and was keeping abreast record at Lucknow in February with of Duncan While but had not the. 50 ft. 2 ina.

necessary stamina for the rest of the

But Kitto is not a man who can

But

I think we have not yet seen distance. prove on his record before long...

The other record breaker among be overlooked, or his splendid per-

the best in Peiris and he should im-formance of 10.5 pecs, la there to before ho the men was the evergreen Chandra 'speak for him. Shortly

Australian Tennis Fans Irked At Omission Of Sedgman From Davis Cup

Melbourne.

There is keenor public disappointment at the omission of 20-year-old Frank Sedgman from the Australian Davis Cup team than there is at John Bromwich's non-selection.

It is not easily forgotten that

Captain Adrian Quist has returned.

the double-handed stalwart of to comething like his old form and Is remarkably ft, may be dependect other days did a great deal to upon to do his best, unaffected by placo Australia in the forefront the occasion.

of the tennis world, but the last

Billy Sidwell, who has often im- out❤ Davis Cup series in Melbourne pressed the Americans as an amply demonstrated that a ten-standing player, will be second- nia renaissance had changed the string singles,

д

hard-hitting

character of the game, out- Geoff Brown is capable of rising moding former winning tactics to great heights, as ho amply de- monstrated at Wimbledon, when he tenacity Now it is a caso of attack fought his way by sheer from the first service. Jack of purpose to several anals, Kramer and Ted Schroeder, who

Colin Long is Yet he confounded all critics by set the example, exploded all

and All-India record creating an

world, and proved his worth with returning a time, which would have preconceived idens of match-doubles partner for anyone in the

the Berlin winning tactics.

Bromwich In the last U. B. Cup him a heat in won

serica. Ho will probably pair with. The new era is "creeping" on Olympics of 1836. Kitto can do it

Australia, and it appears, in

the Sidwell (or Quist) in the important ngain with training and proper care.

oylnion another instance, that publie

Latourneys. Dr. H. M. P. Perera

The teams is expected to leave Olymple prospect, was a disappoint-perhaps wiser than the executive

minds of the LTAA.

by air for the North American zono ment and just mannged by sheer ex- perience to nose out Oscar Wijesing-

For instance, the selections (Sir in June, and hopes to meet the of the European zone he who led througout, In the poor

Norman Brookes, and Messrs, C. R. winnera time of 52.5 secs.

Cowling, T. E. Robinson, after a successful preliminary round. In fairness to him it must be said Shepherd and C. Sproule) unhesi that his training was interfered with tatingly ruled out John Bromwich by flu which laid him up for a week when he refused to travel by air, and again by a strained calf muscle. realizing that "Brom" was no longer

However Perera's 40.5 Indin re-indispensable. cord would have safely seen him

ΠΕ through the preliminaries the Berlin Olymples. Let It not

time was forgotten also that this achieved when he was not quite re- covered from an attrack of fu

be

A. C. Dep who for the last sixteen

เก has been quietly and yours obviously vaulting into the heavens did a bare 11 fect 3 Inches and was beaten by Jansz who also cleared the

lesser same beight but with tries.

The president of the LTAA and' chairman of selectora, Sir Norman Brookes, who left for England bes fore the anal pronouncement of the

statement team, left behind a

They included a promising junior which he said Australia had every in the "possibles" and only left him chance of reaching the challenge of out after long deliberation. This round and had an even chanco mistake cost them. points decision taking the Cup-Em Cowley in the

who to the general pubile,

wero, Christian Science Monitor. solidly behind a Sedgman vote. The selectors had to talk their way out of their decision against a

both of questions from members and the Press.

battery council

BROMWICH SURPRISED

Even John Bromwich was great- omission of He considera the Young Victorian by far the most promising junior In Australia, wid this opinion is shared by practical- ly everyone else.

It is a long time since Dep wently surprised at the over 13 feet at a meet and in this Frank Sedgman, event Ceylon will face a Buff task. Although in 1936 no less than eleven competitors tied for the sixth place with 13 feet 1 inches yet it does not look as though the dizzy heights touched by Meadows will achieved this year.

The

Filipinos For Wimbledon

PAAF tennis committeo Bend Felicisimo have decided to Ampon, "Mighty Mito" of Philippine tennis courts, and another ranking The youngster has made rapid player to Wimbledon for the British bestrides in the past two years, and national tennis championships.

in the recent Australian champion-

the Amado Sanchez, Cesar Carmona ship doubles matches he was outstanding player of the quartetto and Raymunde Deyro are the can- threo can- two-man team., The Brom-W which comprised his partner, Colin didates for the other berth on the elimination Lang, and opponents John

didates will play an wich and Adrian Qulat.

tournament to decide who will make Australia will be soundly repre- the trip, starting Sunday afternoon sented otherwise, for in Adrian at the Rizal Memorial tennis courts.

Colin Long Quist. Billy Sidwell,

The and Geoff Brown there appears to be a strong enough hand to take them Thursday. to the challenge round.

Dep is unfortunate that his work has taken him to stations where no facilities for training exist. If he could be in Colombo for two months under his old coach, Marcus Perera, he will regain his old form.

Judged even by the best of per- formances Ceylon is not so badly off as many pessimists make out, and should for her size and resources pul a tolerably good show.

There is

· no

finer brew!

San Dieg

WHISTLE BLOWSO P

Wale Wi

for London team left

The Wimbledon tennis matches will begin on June 21.

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