CRICKET HUMOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1932, Page 4

CRICKET HUMOUR

AMUSING STORIES. THE CAPTAIN’S SHADOW. SYDNEY, Dec. 15. •Some amusing and unusual cricket yarns were td’d the other night by Mr Syd. Smith, junr., manager of the 192] and 1926 test team's to England, to a Denilquiii audience. Mr Smith told of the third test match in 1921 jn Manchester, which, on account of the rain, turned out to he, only a two days’ matcji, England closing its innings. The. Australians

.protested that it was against the rules of a two days’ match and , that England could not close the innings. Therefore England had to go back to the ficdd and complete the innings. Warwick Armstrong had bowled the previous over. The crowd barracked and Armstrong sat down on. the field while the English captain appealed for quietness. In the excitement Warwick bowled another over—two overs in succession. That was the only record of jsuch an occurrence in a test match. There wais a.shortage of pads in. a local match and the bastman had Ills only pad on the wrong leg. ‘‘What have you got the pad on that leg for ?” he was asked. “Oh,” said the batsman, ‘I didn’t know which end of the wicket I had to bat from.” In 1926 the test players were pestered for-autographs., One little chap asked Warwick Armstrong for his, “Put your book in the dressing room,” said Warwick, byt the little chap .still fol'owed hjm about, “Didn't I tell yog to pub youir book in, the dressing room ?” said Warwick. “Yes," sajd the stripling, “but- I don’t want your autograph ; I was looking for a bit of shade.”

Edgar Mayne took a team to Carada. They lmd never seen a fast bowler at one small town visited. Two country farmers were umpiring. J. Crawford sent down a lightning .ball, which skittled the middle stump. 1 “How’s that?” was the cry. No answer. “How’s that!” was asked again. The umpire scratched . his head and gasped “Marvellous.” Returning from England after the 1921 series, the Australians visited Johannesburg. An old bat was being used, the owner (Zouoh) . thinking it luckv. Down went a swift ball, which knocked a piece out of the bat. The piece took off the bails and Zouch-.was given out. A cricketer gave the captain of an aboriginal team £lO to buy new cricket gear, in order to beat an opposing team. When he got to the ground he found the same old gear in use. “Never mind,” said the abo., “we’ll win, boss.” , . < “How can you,’ said the donor, “with that old muck?”: • “Oh, we’ll win ; a.ll right, boss,” was the reply, “I gave the £lO to the .umpire.”