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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A Chinese Match

We have somewhat anticipated events by running into 1901, for in ’99 the School played one of their surprising tricks on the S.C.C. disposing of the best eleven the Seniors could collect for 29. The same year saw what probably was the first all Chinese cricket match in all history, the S.C.C. Coolies taking on “The Rest of China”, who proved too good for them, 74 to 43. Chinese boys had played cricket before under the auspices of the N.P.C. at Ningpo, but they had foreigners playing for and against them.

A number of more modern names had come into prominence during those years for while the Moules remained, there were Smally, Sawyer, McClure, Dew, K.J. McEuen followed afterwards by a brother D.R equally good, the Veitches, H.D. Ollerdesson, Potter, Stanion, Turnbull and the others too numerous to mention the mere record of whose names will recall to the Shanghai cricketer the reminiscences of mighty hitting, excellent bowling, sensational catches and everything else that goes to make cricket the King of Games.

No More Snipe

It was in 1894 that the Trustees of the Recreation Fund to whom the whole of the interior of the course belongs handed over its care to a Committee appointed by the Council. Till that date the lines of old bits Chinese furrows were easily traceable and in bits of swampy ground here and there snipe found vermiferous temptations which they simply could not resist though twelve bores persecuted them incessantly. With the advent and the money of the new Committee, improvements were soon made and cricket clubs began to multiply till it is now no uncommon thing to see four or five matches at one time on a Saturday afternoon. A Cricket League has thus become possible, not for the best players but those who are classed under the generic title of Second Eleven men. The result has been a most stimulating contest between the S.C.C, the S.R.C, The Police and the B.A.Ts etc., and in this way the number of men playing is altogether out of proportion to the few of earlier times.

The Good Old Way

The cricket of recent years needs little or no reference. It is well within the recollection of all that take an interest in the game. All that need be said is that the men of today are manfully upholding the good old traditions, and though occasionally grey beards wag in the Pavilion and recall some of the deeds we have so inadequately recorded, at the same time expressing fears of modern decadence, they brighten up again when they see a youngster take 8 Hong Kong wickets for 10 runs, or Barrett knock up his century against the same rivals. Jackson, one of the best bowlers we have ever seen here, smiles occasionally as some new man imitates one of his earlier performances, the old fielder sees just as many brilliant catches and as often as ever, perhaps mutters, “Butterfingers!” all of which means the good old game is going on in the good old way, still the pleasure of pleasures to be initiated and the dullest of spectacles to the unfortunate world without.