THE SPORTING WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 16516, 30 August 1917, Page 6

THE SPORTING WORLD

[From Our Loxdox Correspondent.] July 6, 117. THE FUTURE OF SPORT. Although wo oro apparently litill a long way from the cud of the wtvr-—has not ono of the beat-known members of tho peerage told an American audience that it .a only •' just beginning ” —there is a pretty widespread desire to discuss what ill to happen when poaoa comes along. " Eeoonatruotiou ” is in the air, and do voices of different sports are not or.o whit behind people In other wallw of Hfo in wondering now their particular hobby will come through It all. Changes there will bo, and certain would-bo propheis have boon attempting to forecast tho directions in which those changes will lie. One, for instance, double if three-day matches will over bo played on our cricket fields again. Another positively asserts that novor again shall we eee a 100,000 “ gate ” at a football cup final Ho base* this opinion on the assumpriem that, after tho war, all our young men will bo players instead of spectators. A cheery optimist, indeed I Desirable tvs such a state of affairs might be, it is quite unlikely to be realised, for tho reason that tho taste of ©very healthy young soldier does not lie in tho direction of football, and, if at did, there are not sufficient playing fields an and around our cities and large towns for all to play who wanted to. ' Then the older men—and few ardent players care to take part in football much after 30 —like to watch the game they onoe had played, and they naturally gravitate towards those matches where they oan see the highest degree of ekill displayed.

CRICKETERS AND REFORM. Cricketers always were conservative—much can be forgiven men for thair adoration of a noble game which goes back to what one might almost call the Dark Ages of our outdoor sports—and after the war they will resist, as they have resisted, changes in their beloved pastime, which, while intended to make it more popular as a spectacle, rob it ot its dearest rules and regulations. Tho on husiasm of the workers for Association football seems to make the future of the winter game secure. County cricket, as we have known it, may be past revival. Nevertheless, the ardor for the game is still deen in the Englishman’s heart, and if the peace celebrations fall in summer time, and include a three-day match at Lord’s, with what joy the veterans of the pre-war days will (lock to the classic enclosure. Many fine cricketers who once trod the famous turf at headunrters have died in resisting oppression. Others are incapacitated for cricket or any other manly game. Time alone can fill up the gaps with recruits from our public schools and men who, having learned the love of sport in the open while serving. in the Army, develop their latent talent for the kiug of games. ’ A FINE BOY BOWLER. Fortunately, there appears to be no lack of that talent just now at our schools, and although the game is not played with quite such intensity as it was before the war— Eton and Harrow, for instance, no longer meet, in a three-day fixture at Lord’s—en: husiasm is by no means absent, especially in such a match as that played between Winchester and Eton last- week-end. Interest was kindled by the fact that both elevens had soundly trounced the boys of Harrow, and was maintained throughout a low-scoring game, which the Etonians won by -the narrow margin of 7 runs—9 to 92—the last pari being together when the Winchester total was passed. lar and away the most noteworthy individual performance war the bowling of J. d’E. E. Firth, who captured every one of the Eton wickets, at a total cost of 41 runs. Cricketers everywhere will watch the future of this youngster with the liveliest interest. FAMOUS PLAYERS IN THE FIELD. Meanwhile cricketers of an older generation, whether in the Army or engaged in work of national importance, are doing their best to keep the game alive. Some take part in the important dub cricket of the North, others confine their energies to the matches wherein the unit to which they belong turn out. Amongst- the latter is the world-famous bowler, Oolin Blythe, who as-am showed last Saturday that the hand :hat worked such havoc amongst the opponents of Kent and England had hy no means lost its cunning. Bowling for the East Anglian Royal Engineers against t-ho Royal Naval Division. Blythe in 23 balls secured seven wickets for 14 runs. For the trappers Sergeant E. Jennings contributed a notable 55 not out. Tom Hayward, for so many years the darling of the Oval crowd—now, alas! well into the veteran stage turned out for a team captained by the old ?urrey “skipper,” D. L. A. Jephson. Both >l;d . well, Hayward making 45 in a stvlo reminiscent of bis paJmy days, and Jephson 53 not out.

TRAINING THE YOUNG. Perhaps the most fruitful source of discussion, even dissension, when peace is with us onco nsruu. will ba tbs question of Compulsory Military Service. Nobody can s ay which way the balance of opinion in the country will fall, and for the present Englishmen are wise enough to postpone facing tho difficulty until it actually confronts them. Before the war universal service cannot be said to have been within th« sphere of practical (for which read “party”) politics. Both sides dreaded.lo handleit. In a year or two’s time we shall approach it in a far different,spirit, and its advantages and drawbacks will be thoroughly threshed out in the light of what has" occurred since August, 1914. This is not the time and place to consider (hem; but. putting aside economical and moral issues, there can bo no two opinions as to the physical blessings conferred by a. spell of military .training, crpcc : alW on the youngsters who have been called up at 18 years of age, and are awaiting their next birthday before proceefl : nr to the front. In many cases the difference wrought is incalculable. The beys have filled out- p.mazmcly, and present a wonderful contrast with these of their own age who are encaged on munilions or other protected occur.-lions. Where the commanding officer has a proper appreciation of the value o? outdoor sports ‘the youngsters (known :o the facetious-on “warabies”) arc having a right royal time". Military exercises naturally' occupy a great part., of their waking hours, but cricket, swimming, foot racing, and other manly games are pursued with assiduity. Many battalions _ can turn out quite formidable paper-chasm? teams made up entirely of these war babies.*'

STAMINA OR SPEED. By the very nature of the work soldiering 006? not imnrove the speed of the sprinter. Route marching in packs must make 01m sturdy rather than swift. Henco crosscountry running is more popular than racing over lOOyds or a quarter of a mile. Nevertheless some soldiers manage, to retain their speed, and others have developed it. This was manifest at Stamford Bridge on Saturday la.'t, where the programme for the military snorts which the Amateur Athletic Association (compelled by force of circumstances to abandon ouco more their annual cnamnionships) held before a very moderate attendance. The 1908 Olympic ICO-metres champion R E. Walker, turned out, but the South African is not the man hn was nine years ago, and was quite overshadowed by Cadet W. A. Hill (of the R.F.A.) and Trooper S. Davids (of the Royal Dragoons). Twice (m the 100 yds handicap and the level if at the same dmtancol these two finished first and second -respectively. Their styles provided a striking contrast, ITU being smarter out of the “hole," Davids having much the stronger finish. The dragoon has had experience of professional racing. H.H, on the other hand, is quite a new acnuisiliou to the cinder path, aud if he manage to escape serious mishap in !hs war. is bound to he amongst those who run prominently in the amateur championships ot the years to. come.