Bashers Cricket Club

Cricket For Smiles wins ICC Award

Last year quite a number of Bashers stood up and supported Japan Cricket's Cricket For Smiles programme. If you recall Cricket For Smiles was set up to bring a bit of joy to kids in the Tsunami affected areas. several thousand kids have now benefited. The ICC have just awarded the 2011 Spirit of Cricket Award to Japan Cricket. Alex Miyaji the CEO of Japan Cricket has asked me to pass on his appreciation to the Bashers for their support. In 2010 Alex made the long trip to Sichuan with Badabing, Woodstock and myself to support the school in Sichuan and last year some of you will recall he sent Ema over here to spend a week coaching Chinese kids in the SRFC's Sport For All programme. They are good people over there at Cricket Japan who totally get how the power of sport can be channeled for the greater good and as such no surprise to me that they won such a prestigious award. It was good to see the Bashers get behind them in their hour of need.

Bashers Squash Ladder

Inspired by Cranky's fitness drive, Latex and I decided to make an attempt to sort out some pre season fitness by taking up squash. We had a trial game last week but the real stuff begins in earnest this weekend. If other Bashers also fancy a game of squash we could start a squash ladder.Â Put your name down challenge someone and then record the result. If you win you move above the person on the ladder you beat. Pretty simple and given that it is Latex and myselfÂ at the moment the only way should be up for everyone else

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 building on the Bund.

Website, Membership, Elections, Committee... Yawn

Roots & Shoots thank The Bashers

At the Roots & Shoots Board meeting a couple of weeks ago special mention was madeÂ of Latex for helping put together the R&S Donors Drinks evening last month.Â Also thanks to all Bashers that turned up at that evening.Â 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".Â Â Last night the Bashers logo had equal billing on the stage backdrop beside Fortune 500 company logos.

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.

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

3rd part of the 1914 article below. Yet more Scots. We also find out that the Leisure were not the first team to be bowled out easily by school kids, 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.

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.

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....

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.

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 reestablish 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.

The Pusher