Cricket in Many Lands.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1922, Page 1

Cricket in Many Lands.

IMPRESSIONS OF MR J. B. KORTLANG.

“People in New Zealand do not realise that cricket Is played extensively in the Argentine,” remarked Mr B. J. Kortlang, the well-known Australian cricketer, at Christchurch. Mr Kortlang represented his province, Victoria- in 1909-10-11 and 12, and lias also played for Australia against South Africa. He served four and a half years in the Great War and still feels tho effects of this experience. ,

PLAYED BY SPA NIA R DS. “The game is played by English residents and Spaniards as Tell,” Air Kortlang" ' said. '“Thol Belgrano and Hurlinghatn Clubs are the' two leading clubs of Buenos Aires. There arc altogether eight clubs playing in the first grade league. There is a cricket week held at Hurlingham Club and it is one of .the fashionable weeks in Buenos Aires: During' that'week the North v. South Argentine matches are played. Cricket is also played in Valparaiso (Chile) and Rio de Janiero (Brazil). It is not quite- up to the standard in the Argentine. “Throughout the West Indies cricket is their national game and it is really wonderful to see the interest taken by the natives of these islands. A peculiar thing happened to me in Trinidad in 1917 wheat sent there on special service. J was asked to play cricket for a hospital benefit. I accepted the invitation and on arriving at the ground I found that I was the only man in flannels. In tbe centre of the-ground they had a. net placed at one end of the wicket and 1 was asked to give one hour’s batting exhibition. I do not think T would have accepted the invitation had I known its nature before arriving on the ground but seeing a crowd of 2000 natives I went through with it. PLAY IN BERMUDA.

“I was well treated by the people of Trinidad and they dearly love the old game. The same can be said of all the islands. Bermuda, which is the garden spot of the lot. plays cricket all the year round as the climate is very equable. I spent nine months on this island, and toured with the lirst Bermudan cricket team through thb United States of America.” AMERICA’S CRICKET GROUNDS. “Cricket in America is played more extensively than thci average Colonial realises. In Philadelphia you will find perhaps the best cricket grounds in the world. This is admitted by some of tho Irest cricketers’ who have visited there. The English team played there before visiting Australia last year and Australian teams have often played through the States. The standard of cricket is high, such men as J. B. King. Dr ‘Johnny’ I.ester, 15. Cregar, Dr IT. V. Horden. the wellknown ‘bosey’ howler of Australia, are widelv known players in tho cricket world. Dr Horden, who studied in Penn vsvl vania. developed his cricket in Philadelphia ami his performances in Australia, where he won international renown, are well known. J. B. King was the first man in the world to bowl a swerve ball and is considered by many leading players to be tho finest all round cricketer of his day.

“Cricket in New York City.” continued Mr Kortlang, “is played a great deal and there are hundreds of clubs playing on the East Coast. Great, credit is due to Mr .1. S. Bret/., who has kept the game going for a number of years.

CRICKET IX THE EAST. “Cricket is also very ]M>pular in 1 fouv Kong. Shanghai and the Britisli provinces. There are some excellent cricketers in these centres, hut the oppressive' heat is against high-class cricket The. same thing applies to India until one becomes acclimatised.

PLAYING ON ICE. “I have had the novel experience of playing cricket on the ice. I was a passenger on a ship called the City of X oino hound for Alaska and was caught iu the ice and held up for two months. There was another ship called thc< .Tehee in the same predicament about two miles away, so we arranged a cricket match among the Englishmen of the parly. We used baseball hats and halls and for a wicket a block of ice was utilised. It was decided to ‘mu out’ or ‘skate out’ everything and it was a common thing to score fifteen or twenty at one time. We had an alleged fast howler in the party and when the wicket-keeper missed the hall and had to skate for it the howler used to remark. ‘I don't think you’ll got hack before the ire breaks.’ ”

Mr Kortlang intends to take up his residence in Christchurch and will in all probability play for one of the city clubs during the coming season.