SPORT IN BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPORT IN BRITAIN.

Racing Features —Soccer Players From Austria — West Indians as Cricketers —A Fine Spin Bowler —Among the Boxers —The Status of Jackie Brown.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Sport ranging from the turf to boxing, with a number of exclusive items of news relating to Soccer football, cricket, and some notable fistic exponents, is contained in this week's contribution. New Zealanders will be especially interested in a summing up of the West Indian cricket strength, and an account of their collapse against a bowler whom the last New Zealand cricketers found a most formidable opponent. Eugene Corri's survey of the boxing situation and Camera's likely plans appeals, as usual, as being sound.

LONDON", August 17. KING AND THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE. The King is to be represented in the Cambridge 'lire by Limelight (writes our racing specialist), and I understand that this will be the horse's last race. He is then to go to the stud at Sandringham, His Majesty's residence in Norfolk, where he was bred. Several other highclass four-year-olds arc also to begin their breeding careers at the end of tlio season. These include the Aga Klian'a Firdaussi, the St. Leger winner, Dastur, and April the Fifth, who won the Derby for Mr. Tom Walls, the actor.

The Cambridgeshire usually attracts the best class handicap entry of the year, and this season's event is no exception. Classic stamp has been given to it by Firdaussi and Dastur, who, like Limelight, are not expected, to appear again. Both are, of course, sure to be heavily weighted, but horses of their class arc not easily overburdened, and they arc bound to be fancied on the day of the race.

A strong challenge will probably be offered by the two fillies Brown Betty and Eclair. On their two-year-old form, Brown Betty was considered to have as much as 171b in hand, as compared with her rival, and the running of the two in the One Thousand Guineas suggested that this estimate was fairly correct. In the meantime, however, Eclair has improved in a remarkable manner, and I shall be surprised if the handicapper makes much distinction between the two fillies in the Cambridgeshire. Both are in the same stable. A Horse to Watch. Versicle is another liigli-class filly who has been entered. She belongs to Lord Stanley, the son of Lord Derby, and it was suggested both owners might triumph at Epsom. But while Hyperion played his part successfully for Lord Derby in the Derby, Versicle failed to do herself justice in the Oaks.

Two of the most consistent handicap horses have been Colorado Kid and Solenoid, but with unfortunately contrasting results. While the "Kid" has carried all before him, Solenoid in six months has been second four times and third twice. Colorado Kid has been entered in the Jockey Club Cup as well as the Cambridgeshire, so that it is apparently believed that he can win over longer distances than he has so far attempted. A horse to watch for the Cambridgeshire is Canaletto, who belongs to Lord Derby. Owing to foot trouble, he had not run until the recent Liverpool meeting since his first season in training, and he was, of course, decidedly backward. He, however, gave- a most impressive display, and, inasmuch as he is sure now to be given other races, I think he will be a greatly improved horse when the Cambridgeshire is due to be run. There are other entrants with obvious possibilities, such as King Salmon, who gave a highly satisfactory display at Goodwood, and Raymond. King Salmon, however, is first to take his chance in the St. Leger. VISIT OF AUSTRIAN FOOTBALLERS. As though it had a spite against them, the sun usually blazes forth when the footballers "begin to train for the new season and take part in the practice matches. Since the mea have been recalled' to their clubs after their three months' holiday, the shade temperature has often been over 80 degrees, and to add to their troubles the ground has been as hard as a macadam road. The public are usually admitted to the trial matches, and the receipts are given to charity, a total sum of over £20,000 usually being disbursed. A charge of sixpence is made. This is half the amount that has to be paid at the League matches, and, because the attendances at some of the practice games were exceptionally high, it has been suggested that football would benefit by an all-round lowering of charges. I am afraid, however, that, if admission fees were reduced, there would have to be a cut in players' wages, and even the clubs are not in favour of this.

One of the most interesting features of the season will be a second visit by the Austrian national side. They are, however, only to meet Scotland in Glasgow. Many . English clubs would be pleased to give them fixtures, hut the Football Association will not permit a club side to meet a national team. The difficulty, however, may be overcome by the Austrian authorities bringing extra players, and picking a team which would bo representative of the Austrian League. Ido not think the F.A. would raise any objections to such a match, and it is probable that the visitors will be played by the Arsenel, who are the English League champions, and promise again to have an exceptionally strong side. » 3 WEST INDIANS BEATEN AGAIN.

Once more the W&t Indian cricketers Lave been beaten* by an innings in a Test match, mailing the fifth out of six of these games in which they have lost by this considerable margin. It is a disappointing record, and I am afraid the deduction will be drawn that the visitors are not yet up to Test match standard. " But their performances do not do them justice. They are much better cricketers than the results suggest. Their troubles at the present time are largely temperamental ones. Bats-men go in and immediately begin to hit fours as if nothing were easier. They show no restraint, and glorious as their abandon appears, they have to pay for it sooner or later. You cannot play in that style in Test matches. On the other hand, if tliey do not settle down straightway they arc sorely depressed, and without fighting to get over the had time they throw tlieir wickets away. These weaknesses are understandable when it is realised that at home the West Indians play in matches which last only a few hours, and there is no time for seriousness.

At the same time it is true that all the members of the eleven have not shown first-class form. Headley has proved himself a batsman who would command a place in a world eleven. Roach, too, is a very fine player, but while others have at times batted extremely well, there has been a lack of consistency. Much the same thing may be said about the bowling. Martindale has been a most capable fast bowler, and Griffith a useful man with tliQ ball. Still, four or five good cricketers do not make up a strong Test team, and the lack of uniformity has probably been the real undoing of the tourists. Great Bowling Performance. The English authorities had remarkable difficulty in deciding on their eleven. Altogether they picked 17 men, and as many as six had to withdraw, either through illness or injury. In the circumstances, it was a strange-looking side who eventually took the field under the captaincy of B. E. S. Wyatt, in the absence of D. It. Jardine. The latter could not play owing to a crack on the leg with the ball while fielding in a match with Surrey.

At one point England seemed to be in a critical position. Batting first on a fine Oval pitch four men were out for 6S, and the recovery which followed was brought about by players included in the team as reserves. The chief honours were carried off by Bakcwell, the young Northamptonshire batsman, who went in first, and when wickets were tumbling at the other end offered a stout resistance. As soon as Bakcwell got some one to 6tay with him he scored freely, and he went on to make 107. Still seven wickets were down for 20S, and the situation was most unpromising. It was then, however, improved by Barnett, who made 52, and Nichols, who contributed 49. In the end the total reached 312, and the West Indians must have thought that they had done extremely well. In fact, they were confident that they would pass this score.

But there was a bowler on the England side whom they.had not previously met, and who puzzled them amazingly. This was C. S. Marriott, a schoolmaster at Duhvich College. Marriott is 38 years of age, and this was his first Test match. Possibly he had not been chosen before because his duties would not allow him to play. It was, of course, known that he was exceedingly clever both in spinning and fighting the ball, but his overwhelming success on a. pitch entirely in favour of the batsmen was surprising. Largely through' Marriott's bowling the tourists were all out for 100, and having to follow on they did not do much better at the second attempt. Marriott took five wickets in the first innings for 37 runs, and six for 59 in the second. I do not think he will be forgotten when the Australians come next summer.

Cricket Doyen. Real cricket enthusiasts salute Lord Hawke this week on his seventy-third birthday. Though he has taken teams all over the world, and has a total of 13,000 runs on his score sheet, with 106 as his top hit, there are many players with better records of mere performance. It is in his cricket outlook that the Yorkshire doyen is supreme. He is all against commercialising the game, and holds that the man who gallantly risks his mitt is a better cricketer than the patient exponent of safety first. If everybody lived up to Lord Hawke's standard there would be no need for either off or leg-theory bowling. He dislikes the batsman who behaves at the wicket as though he had taken a long-term lease of eternity. The old president of the M.C.C. will get birthday greetings from nearly every corner of the globe. Piecework Cricket. It is entirely unlikely that we shall hear much more about the latest bright idea from Australia for paying cricketers by results. Not a cricketer with whom I have discussed the proposal, amateur or professional, past or present player, has a good word for the proposal, though many have a good laugh at it. The idea of instituting cricket piecework payments, with so much per run, catch, or wicket, is an inspiration in the brain of a sporting gentleman who introduced Australian dirt track racing in this country. Apart from the fact that it would entail a firm of accountants to reckon up the pay-sheet after a big match, the sheer blatant ccftnmercialism of the business is repulsive to all English cricket ideas. .Tack Hobbs would no doubt, if it were adopted, mourn his past youth. But would a: payment-by-results system soften the' asperities of leg-theory ? BOXING AND BOXERS. Reliable information is that Jackie I Brown will shortly leave Manchester for America to engage in a fight with Midget Wolgast, who, the New York commission insist, is the world's fly-weight' champion (writes Eugene Corri). The news will have perhaps occasioned much surprise, and something like consternation in Liverpool, the home of Ginger Foran. For myself lamin no way astonished, though I shared a common hope that Brown woiild obey the behest of the Board of Control, and defend his title against Foran.

I have a suspicion that Dave Lumianski, who watches the affairs of Brown, has for some considerable time been pulling the strings with the object of getting the little Mancunian linked up with Wolgast. For there is little doubt that, even in these lean days, a match between the two would be a. most attractive box office proposition. And that, from the point of view of most, if not all, managers is all that matters.

But while neither boxer nor manager is in tlie game merely for the b'- '.c,' of

his health, I regret that we seem to be further from a fight between Brown and Foran than ever. I am asked what will our Board of Control say ar>d do. That is entirely a matter for speculation. They may or may not take action, if Brown goes away, and leaves Foran high and dry. On the face of it, it would appear that Brown is disinclined to pay the deference that is due to the board, but, though I am not familiar with ali the cimcumstanccs, I cannot bring myself to believe that Brown supposes that he is free to do as he pleases.

That would never «'o. The situation, however, calls for an immediate and a fuH explanation. We shall probably be told that at the very moment he was warned to prepare for Foran, negotiations for a light with Wolgast had so far advanced that his hands were tied. It is said that Brown has been guaranteed more money to meet Wolgast than ho could hope to get for any contest in this country. Further, that if he beat Wolgast, lie would have removed all doubt whether he was the best Sst man in all the world. Law Unto Themselves. In the matter of the world's title, it should be enough that he is accepted as rightful holder, not only by ourselves, but by everybody save the members of the New York State Athletic Commission. And it is notorious that they seldom see eye to eye with the vest of the authorities. They are decidedly a law unto themselves in the ratings of fighters. For instance, they have always contended that Jeby was first middle-weight, when we would have it that that distinction belongs to Marcel Thil.

I could recite any number of instances where they have differed from the rest of tho world. In my view there is no question that Jackie Brown is entitled to pass as premier flyweight of all the nations. Midget Wolgast is, maybe, the demon that lie is represented to be. That does not establish him as a non-such. But that is besides the mark. So far as we are con corn cd, tho question is whether at the moment it is right and proper that Brown should go to America.

I am not with those who charge Brown with having studiously avoided Fortui. He is the last of all fighters to run awav from any man. None the less, it will lie rough luck on the Liverpool lad if he is barred from taking a tilt at the champion. It is true that, if Brown goes to the States and loses a place among (he world beaters, he will remain the British title-holder, and that, when he returns, Foran may fight him. But that would not be the same, and it does not follow that, six months from now, Foran will be as good as he is to-dav. However, I would leave it to the different parties to straighten out a position which I, for one, hoped would develop no puckers. But would it not have been far better if Brown, since he is sure that he can beat Foran. had taken steps to make good his belief before taking himself away? Future of Camera. Since he defeated Sharkey, and won the world's championship, the boxing promoters have been falling over then" selves in trying to persuade Primo Camera to return to Europe and defend his title. I doubt, however, whether they will succeed, although the Italian giant has declared that he is anxious to come home. These pronouncements by boxers can Seldom be accepted, because they are rarely free agents. Camera seems to have so many managers that one may bo suro that, as the titleholder, his course will be carefully shaped for him, and that when he fights again it will be for "big" money.

Larry Gains, the Canadian coloured heavy-weight, who has been in England for somo time, is very anxious to meet Camera, and has offered to put up £1000 stake. He has already one victory to his credit over the new champion, and this is a very good reason why the men are unlikely to meet. As a matter of fact, I think the American promoters have all the strings in their hands, and that they are sure to stage the next championship fight, which is not likely to tako place for a year.

Meanwhile, the manager of Donald McCorkindale, the South African, has gone to New York to see if there is any possibility of getting Camera to come to London to meet his man. I believe he is acting on behalf of Jeff Dickson, who promoted the contests in which Carnera figured in London. There is no doubt that Camera could earn a very substantial sum in Europe; more, in fact, than he is likely to do in Amcrica, but I fear that American interests will hold him to the plans they have prepared for him.