THE SPORTING WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 30 November 1938, Page 4

THE SPORTING WORLD

Variety of Pars from Here and There By “ERA"

Longer Tests Arranged South Africa will send another cricket team to England in 1940. The five tests will me allotted four days each. On the last tour only three days were allotted. Four matches were drawn and South Africa won the only one finished, and with it the rubber. Fist Travels 40 Miles an Hour An "electric eye” timing device showed that the right list of A 1 Albin, a heavy-weight boxer, who was once attached to Schmeling’s training camp, travelled at the speed of 40.2 miles an hour. It is understood that Joe Louis would not submit to similar measurements. Wrestling Match Next Saturday at Auckland “Lofty” Blomfield is to meet Brother Jonathan, the "Bearded Mormon" wrestler. The match is to be an open-air bout and should draw a big crowd. Jonathan has had a very succesfsul season tn Australia. It was Blomfield’s intention to go to Sydney to force a match with the American, but the Auckland Wrestling Association have “saved him the bother.” and are bringing Jonathan to Auckland. World Rankings England’s famous tennis critic, Wallis Myers, ranks world players of 1938 as follows: 1 J. D. Budge, 2 H. W. Austin, 3 J. Bromwich, 4 R. L. Riggs, 5 S. B. Wood, 6 A. K. Quist, 7 R. Menzel, 8 J. Yamagishi. 9 G. Mako, 10 F. Puncec. In “Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanac” for 1938, Mr Myers (its editor), on 1937 form, ranked tho players thus: J. D. Budge (U.S.A.), 2 G. Von Cramm (Germany), 3 H. Henkel (Germany), 4 H. W. Austin (Britain), 5 R. L. Riggs (U.S.A.), 6 B. M. Grant (U.S.A.), 7 J. H Crawford (Australia), 8 R. Menzel (Czechoslovakia, 9 F. A. Parker (U.S.A.), 10 C. E. Hare (Britain).

Batting R.. Vass (Athletic) 80 M. Fowler (Waimea) 74 W. A. Dee (Old Boys) *53 E. R. Neale (Old Boys) *sl L. Bryant (Y.M.C.A.) 43 S Winter (Athletic) *3B O. Du Feu (Y.MC.A.) 38 C Shuttleworth (Waimea) 38 Bowling E Wilde (Wakalu) 6 for 35 A. Newman (Old Boys) 3 for 28 R. N. Busch (Old Boys) ... 3 for 31 A. W. Alloo (Old Boys) 3 for 35 MOTUEKA Batting M. Stevens (Lower Moutere) *37 E. Bisley (Whakarewa) 32 Bowling H. Smith (Motueka) 5 for 28 C. Bisley (Whakarewa) 5 for 41 G. Rowling (Brooklyn) 5 for and 4 for 10 E. Bisley (Whakarewa) 4 for 26 R. Holdaway (Lower Moutere) 3 for 8 V. Sixtus (Upper Moutere) ... 3 for 22 R. Fowler (Riwaka) 3 for 41 *Not out.

Great Career Ends Stormy petrel of cricket for many years, Harold Larwood, the famous Notts fast bowler, is now, unfortunately, a back number. The cabled news that he cannot play in county championship matches for the next two seasons, because of a knee injury, must mean his final retirement. His age is thirty-three. Perfect timing was the secret of Larwood’s amazing success. From a fullout run, his sturdily-built body would catapult the ball with speed, accuracy and precision. At his zenith, he took test wickets without a semblance of body Line. Whether the method of bowling he 1 adopted in 1932-33 in Australia was worth the candle, was justified, or not justified, is beside the point. The fact remains that the repercussions to the bodyline argument closed his test career for ever. But bodyline was not his invention. He was merely used as the chief instrument in its application. In all, he took sixty-four wickets for England against Australia, at an average of 30.06. It is doubtful whether the world has seen his equal as a fast bowler, combining the three essentials—speed, accuracy, devil. Ruling Upheld by M.C.C. What are the powers of a cricket umpire when he sees that a bowler is causing damage to a pitch by running on it during his delivery of the ball? The question has now been answered by a ruling sent from the M.C.C. to the New Zealand Cricket Council bearing on the case cf an Auckland bowlei who was called” last season for causing damage to the pitch. This ruling traverses the whole question and reads: "In tile case of a deliberate arid persistent attack on a batsman by a bowler the M.C.C. has ruled that the correct procedure is lor the umpire to caution the bowler, and if this is ineffective, to inform the captain of the fielding bide and tlie other umpire of his views. "From this it will be seen that in the case of unfair play the umpires have already been authorised to intervene without appeal in the specific case mentioned, and it is reasonable to assume that this is the intention of the law in spite of the bottom note on page seventeen of the Official Laws of Cricket. “In the new edition of the Laws of Cricket which is now in preparation approval has been given to the insertion ot i note making it clear that the umpires are entitled to intervene without appeal in the case of unfair play. It would, therefore, appear that the action of the umpire in Auckland was justifiable ’ Tins M.C.C. ruling bears out the contention advanced in these columns that persistent damage to a wicket is unfair play, and that, as unfair play comes within the scope of an umpire, there should be no necessity to wait for an appeal. Law 43 always hos provided that “The umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play."

World Title Chief Little Wolf recently won an in ternational wrestling tournament in Seattle, and expects to get a bout soon with Bronka Nagurski for the world title. Cricket Trophy The presentation of the Winsor Memorial Cup, which is to be awarded for the outstanding bowling performance in Plunkct Shield cricket on the same lines as the Redpath Cup for batting, should add considerable interest to the series of games this season. The complaint has often been made that batting is given excessive prominence at the expense ot bowling, and it is pleasing to see that the New Zealand Council has decided to give more recognition and an incentive to bowlers. The trophy was presented by Mr A. T. Donnelly, formerly chairman of the council, to perpetuate the memory of a late secretary. Another “Comeback” James J. Braddock, the former world’s champion boxer, is thinking seriously of attempting another "comeback.” It is said that Braddock has lost in a restaurant venture what he made from his bout with Joe Louis for the heavyweight title. Braddock has already broken the "no comeback” law of nature. He was working on relief when he got the chance that led to his winning the world title. As champion he made money, but lost it quickly, and a little over twelve months ago he began a second "comeback” that led to a victory over Max Baer and a title fight against Louis with the negro knocking him out after he had made one of the gamest fights in the history of the ring. Braddock is 35 and well liked by all in the sport. None of his friends want to be faced with the possibility of having to knock him badly about to beat him.

v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v/.v.vv Four Overs, 108 Runs Here is something in the way of fast scoring. In a competition match in the Clunes (New South Wales) Association, M. Archer, aged 17, scored 125 in 35 minutes, getting 108 from four overs, hitting in all nine sixes and 14 fours. Don Bradman made 100 in three overs at Blackheath some few years ago. He scored his first 100 out of 102 with Wendell Bill, who played two balls, from each of which he scored a single. In the first 100 Bradman hit ten sixes end nine fours. He made 220 in about three-quarters of an hour, and finished with 256. In Cairns in 1910 L. C. Quinlan scored 100 not out for Trinity v Mercantile in 18 minutes, including eight sixes If one or two of our local batsmen could be induced to turn on "fireworks” of this description occasionally the nonplaying public would know where to go on Saturday afternoons. McCabe oil the Tour At the V.C.A. welcome to the Aus-tralians-Sian. McCabe said that he had never known a team in which the spirit of good fellowship and friendliness had been more pronounced. "We are all looking forward lo meeting again in the M.C.C. Centenary match in Melbourne. "It is interesting to note how the opinions of people change in regard lo test cricket and test cricketers,” he continued ‘When England won the first two matches in the last series in Australia, people said, ‘Oh. Australia has no chance now. Thcv won’t win a match ’ "When we won the next three matches, the same people said. ‘Well, that’s the end of England. They’ll have no chance when Australia goes home lo play them.' "Now we re back again, and you hear it said, pessimistically. How ever can Australia hope to beat England in 1940'’ With the material England has, wc won’t have a look in.’ "All I can say is that no matter how good the Englishmen are. their task out here won't be nearly as easy as a lot ol people seem to think it is at present ” McCabe also mentioned that there was a better spirit in the relations of the Australians and Englishmen during the 1938 tour than ever. "The Englishmen joined with the Australians in their outings, and seemed anxious to be friendly. We all appreciated that very much,” said Stan.