For the next four months or so King Willow will hold sway once again in Shanghai and the magic click of bat and ball that still has millions of followers all over the world will continue to hold the interest of old and young and rich and poor, for this great pastime is bounded by neither creed nor rank and is rightly known as (be "Ambassador of AN
Sports!"
The past week has seen numerous members of the Shanghai Cricket Club getting in a little early season practice in the nets on their ground at the Race Course and if their timing in batting and length in bowling has not been as accurate as will be witnessed a month hence, it is an extremely good sign that a start has been made with the month of May barely arrived.
Today will mark the official opening of the 1939 season when at 1.30 p.m. two Shanghai Cricket Club sides will meet in what is more or less a practice match. Sixteen players have been chosen to represent each team and it is believed that the occasion will be utilized for purposes of test-ug the respective batting and bowling strengths of the various members rather than retiring each man as quickly as possible.
The two XVIs will be captained by
TA. C.
sinclair and D. W. Leach and are fairly evenly matched. In the former's side are E. H. Anstice, R.
Booth, A. Graham, C. F. King, A. Lingard, J. W. Pote-Hunt, L. E. Stokes and J. E. Fairbairn whilst in Leach's team are included G. S.
Dunkley, L. C. Day, E. E. Duckitt, P. J. Hart, J. C. Jenkins, H. E. Orr, C. E. M. Thomson and P. V. Simpson, an array of names that comprises the cream of Shanghai's cricketing talent. Selected teams are: strength. It is hoped that before the season fas become well advanced that japan Withdraws from better support will be forthcoming
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.