Bashers. It's Shanghainese for Cricket

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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National Holiday BBQ and knock about

This one is for all of us not lucky enough to be heading off to the beach for there holidays.

On Monday 3rd October we have a pitch booked out at SRFC from Lunchtime onwards. The bar will be open and the BBQ fired up.

The idea is to leave the Camel around 11:15. And have some lunch at the SRFC then Have a 20/20 or 30 over game.

I have opened this up to the other teams so we should have the numbers.

Please post below if you are up for it and in town.

Bring friends and family if they are around.

What else you got to do!!!

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.

 

Lumberjack report : LEISURE vs DULWICH KNIGHTS SENIORS (Sept 25, 2011)

Hallelujah….what a game!!!

• Sunday 25 September 2011 Dulwich College
  Bashers Leisure 193/8 (6.93)
  Dulwich Knights Seniors 123/5 (2.83)

Great Teamwork…….solid performances……sharp fielding……all in all splendid work on the field.

PERFORMANCES:

• SCOOBIE: 50*(no) / 5 – 1 – 15 – 1 (definitely man of the match),
• PUBERTY: 42 / 4 overs for 30ish.
• STIFFY : 20 / 3 overs for 20ish
• WOODY : A quick fire 20ish / 5 overs for 25ish (good line/length)
• DAGS : 1 – 0 – 5ish – 1 (could be better)
• LATEX: Stinger of a catch….best of the season!!
• PUSHER (Jr) : An over for a few…..better than “PAPA”
• PUSHER (Sr): Diving stops at mid off…..adding to the pressure!!
• SHIT HOES : An over….bit rusty needs practice
• SEARS : Agile behind wickets…..except few ‘blinders’

Setting a target of 193 (highest of the season)…..were able to skittle our opponents out for a mere 120!!

Dulwich Knights Seniors: Contrary to the ‘title’…..sorry not much to say. Mediocrity at its best!! No one man put up a challenge….be it batting, bowling, fielding or chirping!! Guess the Leisure spirit was too much to handle.

So lads, a nice way to bow out of the season….with a BANG!!

Adios Amigos!!

By the way……Immaculate Captaincy!!

2011 Division Three

Monday 26 September 2011	P	W	D	L	F	A	P
Pudong Power	12	8	2	2	1541	1278	69.61
DPR Hot Dogs	12	6	1	5	1504	1474	58.94
Dulwich Knights Seniors	12	6	0	6	1309	1394	51.09
Bashers Leisure	12	4	1	7	1530	1633	48.3
Devils DUI	12	4	0	8	1363	1468	45.63

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.

Sunday Squads

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Roots and Shoots Gala Dinner

Its time to don your blazers and represent the Bashers at a great events hosted by our amazing charity partners Roots and Shoots.

For those of you who are new to the club please take 5 minutes out and visit their site here to see the great things they are doing here in Shanghai and all over China.

Gala Dinner

On October 21st, Friday from 7pm till late, the greater Shanghai Marriott group is hosting a charity gala dinner benefiting Shanghai Roots & Shoots Million Tree Project at the newly-opened Marriott City Centre Hotel.

The Bashers have a table booked and there are 6 spots still open on that. It would be great to get enough people signed up to need a second table so get involved. This is one of the best Gala evenings in Shanghai. So don’t miss out!

Please put you name below with the word Gala next to it if you want to take a ticket and I will get in contact to confirm.

Please lets really make an effort for these 2 events, Tori and the team at Roots and Shoots do so much good work the Bashers need to show there support.