TEST MATCH COMEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1929, Page 2

TEST MATCH COMEDY

SOUVENIR BAT

NEAV ZEALANDER’S LUCK.

LONDON, August 23,

At the coriclusion of the last Test Match at the Oval, on August 20th. the South Africans made a rush to become possessed of single stumps as souvenirs. Mr Clyde Foster," who was present, writes in the “Evening Standard:’’ This was a tiling I had never witnessed before. It took the crowd aback to see such levity in the stately national game. .

But there was much, more to come. “We—^want—Deane!!’ shouted the British public when the popular South African captain had' disappeared with his men inside the pavilion. “One—two—three! We—want—Deane — Deane!” The captain courageously stepped out. on the framework of the aiyriing and addressed the crowd and I heard great point made of the kindness that had been shown to him and his men during their wonderful tour of the English counties.

When the “Peane din” had quietened, “Carr—Carr—Carr 1 We—want —Carr!” The English cap + ain dressed in mufti, brieflv addressed the crowd, and I heni’d this:. “You have to-dnr seen the most brilliant fielding in your ..ves.” That sentiment was ncclnimer’ with a thunder-dap of applause.

Then came what nobody anticipated. Mr Deane reappeared with a s”v' 1 white cricket bnt .in his band. What, it meant lie soon let'ris knew. Before flinging the bnt upon the unlifted heads below he shouted: “Hero Is a souvenir for you. Whoever edtehes the ’bat can have It.” As the symbol of cricket hurtlcr* through the am there was a grand struggle to catch it and hold it till it seemed as though the handle might be sundered from the blade.

“Fairplav!” shouted those bellin'' the vortex of arms and heads. “T the man have it who made the catch.” ,It took some tactful suasion by diplomats in blue to establish the real ownership and this being done, the proud possessor was surrounded by'men and boys reading the signatures, of both .teams written-in ink on the bat.

'•>The.ultimate owner—for I could hear offers being made—wrote his name and address on 'a sheet of paper for me. He was: G. V, Edge: of Bluff, New Zealand, “the farthest travelled spectator on the ground,’’ as he called himself. The last I saiv of Mr Edge he was “edging” his way out of the ground with a number of boys hanging, on to him begging to read the names on the most interestingdittle hat in the world. Some desired Mr Edge to write his own name in an autograph hook, and ope enterprising youth would he.. he said, “awfully much obliged” if he could photograph this bat and the names written on it.