PLAYING THE GAME

Inangahua Times, 24 August 1931, Page 1

PLAYING THE GAME

Cricket end the Empire

When the last team of Australian cricketers was given a farewell j

dinner by the president of the M.C.C., the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, of ] world-wide cricket fame as “ Ranjitsinhji,” replied to the toast of ' Cricket. He said he felt be was ' replying to the toast of the British i Empire, “ the greatest cricket team j which the world has ever seen,” and I developed the analogy in detail. \ “ I cannot help thinking that all of I us in this great British Empire need more of the spirit which cricket t inculcates,” he said, “We need I more team work, more patience, and .more unselfishness. To put tbe( ; matter briefly, we need more of the i true spirit of cricket. For cricket is i more than a game; it is really a I manner of living. I am sure it is j one of the greatest contributions I which the British people have made Ito the cause of humanity. It is i certainly among the most powerful 1

; of the links which keep our Empire I together. So long as we can maintain in that Empire the r spirit of sportmansbip which cricket inculcates, so long shall we be ready, as a team, to meet and defeat any adversity which the future may bold for us.” He closed with an impressive assurance that the prints of India could be relied on, even in the most difficult circumstances, to play the game and to give every j support in their power to the I harmony and success of the j Imperial team.