Bashers. It's Shanghainese for Cricket

SCC Debenture from 1934

One of my colleagues whose family has some stuff in the attic from the SCC in the 20′s and 30′s gave me a copy of this debenture issued in 1934. $1000 (there were 50 of them)  paying 6% a year and redeemable in 1964. Obviously they never got their money back. Below also this photo of the Taikoo and Wayfoong teams from 1923.  Comparing photos across the years some of the money raised in 1934 clearly went towards extending the clubhouse and particularly the bar presumably at the behest of the Gentlemen. The guy in the middle in the suit is the head of HSBC who built their buiding on the Bund.

Roots & Shoots thank The Bashers

At the Roots & Shoots Board meeting a couple of weeks ago special mention was made of Latex for helping put together the R&S Donors Drinks evening last month.  Also thanks to all Bashers that turned up at that evening.  Again last night at the Marriott Fund Raiser for R&S big thanks to all Bashers who fronted up to contribute RMB 10K for a table as well as those that bought items in the auction and of course for the Bashers on stage performance. Latex’s new skull ashtray was the auction bargain of the night. Special mention was also made of those Bashers who have volunteered time to help with the tree planting and visit the school in Inner Mongolia. R&S Chairperson Tori Zwisler said “the Bashers are always the life and soul of the party”.  Last night the Bashers logo had equal billing on the stage backdrop beside Fortune 500 company logos.

Yesterday afternoon Barcadi, who are a major donor to R&S, spoke to me about putting together a big party earlier next year together with the Bashers for all R00ts & Shoots contributors/donors and staff etc…..Bacardi, Babes and Bashers type thing which could be very big. Bacardi will source a great venue.

So on behalf of everyone at Roots & Shoots a big thank you. Bashers are way ahead of both the rest of the cricketing community and most sports clubs in Shanghai when it comes to getting behind good causes.

Pusher (Roots and Shoots Board Member)

1st Fifty Years of Shanghai Cricket (Part #4)

Last part of the 1914 newspaper article. Reference to concerns about ” modern decadence”  were prophetic.  The reference to men of today “manfully upholding traditions” clearly refers to the gentlemen of the Leisure. Also interesting 1st eleven standard players were excluded from playing in the League.

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The First Fifty Years of Shanghai Cricket (Part #3)

3rd part of the 1914 artcile below.  Yet more Scots. We also find out that the Leisure were not the first time to bowled out easily by schoolkids so Dags and Latex can rest easy… and judging by the scores the Leisure were not the first team to play under the heavy influence  of alcohol. Also things get going with Japan.

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The First Fifty Years of Shanghai Cricket (Pt 2)

2nd part of the same 1914 North China Herald article.  Note that Gentlemen should really not play in the heat which clearly explains the Leisure’s regular mid season slumps.  It was a (Major) Turner that started the Interport games. The Bokhara tragedy…… I wonder if the stained glass window is still here.

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50 years of Shanghai Cricket (Part 1) – from an article published in 1914

The following is the first part of an article that appeared in the North China Herald on Nov 7th 1914 to record the first 50 years of Shanghai Cricket. I am sure the guys from that era would have put on a big party for their Jubilee so I think something should be done for the 150th year. Anyway if you are Scottish you will enjoy this first part and if you are a either Irish or a Yank you may be surprised….

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Cricket Clubhouse in Shanghai 1939

Now here is a decent clubhouse befitting the gentlemen of the Leisure. Steps leading down from the bar for the batsmen to wander down on their way out to the wicket, bar properly stocked and waitered as well as decent seats to watch the proceedings from.  I can just see the likes of the Jag, Latex, Loose and Mouse sitting in the club house, blazered up,  guffawing at the proceedings on the field whilst they suck on a big fat cigars and snap their fingers at the waiter to bring over another rather large gin and tonic.

The two teams in the photo are my company Swire (Taikoo) and HSBC (Wayfoong). For just over 60 years they played an annual fixture in Shanghai until 1949 which to this day probably still makes it one of the longest running local cricket fixtures.  Also the first annual rugby match between these two “Hongs”  was played in 1912. So guess what….. as next year is 2012 it is time to mark the centenary of their first rugby game with both a rugby and cricket match between the latest generation of Taikoo and Wayfoong including what will need to be a few ringers (any Marco Polo Club members out there?).

I have also been given a lengthy press article from 1914 which gives a detailed history of the first 50 years of Shanghai cricket. When I get the time I’ll transcribe it and post it. I could not help noticing that a certain Major Turner was also a prominent figure in the early years of cricket in Shanghai, another Turner between the Wars and a Turner after the 2nd World War so clearly there has been a Shrek  or two before Basher #1

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It seems that the first all Chinese cricket match took place in 1901 between the Rest of China and the politically incorrectly named SCC “Coolies” ……although unforunately the article does not provide clarity as to whether the SCC Coolies were the forerunners of the Hot Dogs.  One suspects they might have been.

Scotland v England at Cricket (In Shanghai)

As the Battle of Auckland looms next week when Scotland hopefully give England a good kicking at rugby, I was pleased to find out that Shanghai is also no stranger to such sporting fixtures. If you have looked at the rugby shirts on the wall at the SRFC you may have seen the rather splendid Shanghai Scots shirt from the 30′s. Simon Drakeford who is writing a book on the history of the SRFC/Shanghai Rugby recently sent me some photos of the mighty all conquering Shanghai Scots Cricket Team from around the 1860′s to 1890′s that took on the Shanghai English and beat them regularly. Clearly now it is my mission to restablish this fixture and obviously one lesson I can take from the current England cricket team is that in the modern era one can be very flexible  on the eligibility rules.

Xiamen Tour 2011

———————UPDATE 2————————-

Ok boys and girls, lets get this moving. We need to start getting flights and hotels nailed down. If you haven’t posted your interest below already do it in the next week.

You just need to cover the flights up front and then everything else is settled up when we’re down in Xiamen. Flights are just under the 2000rmb mark right now.

Don’t really need to say again how good this trip is but i will anyway!

The guys at the Bogans are literally as wet as an otters pocket about this weekend and have good numbers committed already so we need to man up and commit.

Its basher time!

———————UPDATE————————-

I am just bumping this back out to everyone to remind you that we need to start getting firm commitment for this tour so we can work on the travel and accommodation. Please add to the comments if you are up for this great tour!

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Its back, the bashers event of 2010 is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year!

The Typhoons have confirmed Saturday 29th October for their Sixes. A 6 team event (inc two Bashers teams and the Bogans) and Bashers also been challenged to take on the Typhoons at Baseball in a special challenge and a offer of 30 over game on the Friday for anyone wanting an extra day on Gu Lang Yu. Also this co-incides with Xiamen’s end of year beach ALL NIGHT Halloween party on 29th.

The hotel will be Asia Gulf although possible option to stay on Gu Lang Yu on the Friday night in one of the cool hotels there, garden party in the grounds of one of the old houses  and slowly drift into the land of Zen as most people on the island do on a Friday. Saturday lunch option for the Geishas at the Swire house like last year. Families welcome.  As usual Typhoons superb hospitality the whole time.  If Bashers want their own blimp flying high above Gu Lang Yu need about a months advance notice.

Also Sinbad will receive his honorary Typhoons award for still being the only person from Shanghai in any sport that has drunk through the night with the Typhoons on their turf.  Travel logistics definitely not my area so I think Latex will start sorting out things out with Committee etc although Dags offer of a plane charter sounds interesting with Cranky and/or Woodstock at the controls.

Please note interest below and we will get things in line over the next month or so.