A Report on the first ever Buchi Babu Nayudu Tournament (1909)

Sir,– I hope you will spare a corner in your journal for a few words about the ‘king of games as played in Madras. The season here commences about the beginning of August and as usual it closes about the month of February. A very important feature in this season’s cricket and in the annals of South Indian Cricket is the Tournament for private clubs started in honour and memory of the late Mr. Buchi Babu Naidu, who, has been the worthy captain of the M.U.C. till his untimely death. Indeed every sporting club is really thankful to the M.U.C. for having founded the trophy which object is sure to promote a healthy athletic and thorough sporting spirit among the rising generation of Southern India. The Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy Competition commenced on the 25th Ult., and one is please to note that about twelve teams competed. The tournament committee got all the available private cricket grounds and about three or four matches are being played every day. The most interesting and important match was between the Q.J.C.C. and the P.C.C. with a keen hope to win the trophy. The P.C.C. strengthened its eleven by importing a few strong bats from the “Land of Beans” and from the “Field of Gold.” This sort of patch-work of course will not be very condusive to the health and tone of a sporting club and at all events the treatment perhaps was for a temporary cure only and so the result has been too. For P.C.C. had to be scratched by the tournament committee for reasons already published in your journal. (In the first ever match of the tournament, played between Pickwick CC and Jubilee CC, the former team objected to the condition of the carpeted pitch and required it to be rolled, although it was declared by the umpires and referee fit to play on. The matter was then referred to the Tournament Committee, who disqualified the Pickwick CC and declared Jubilee CC to be the winners.)

However, the game between Q.J.C.C. and the P.C.C. did continue for about three days and but for the refusal of the P.C.C’s Captain to play in the commencement of their second innings, this match of course would have been the very best from a test point of view and a game to witness.

Behaviour subversive of all discipline and practice and against the laws of cricket has been too much in evidence in this tournament. Three teams, viz. The P.C.C., S.U.C., and T.U.C. had to be scratched by the committee. In the match between M.U.C. and S.U.C. the Capt. of the S.U.C. at a late hour about 4.30 p.m. objected to the umpire for an l.b.w. not having been given in their favour when appealed to and insisted on the umpire being changed. More or less at the same hour and under similar circumstances, the T.U.C. Capt. refused to continue the match between his eleven and the P.A.U. at the Engineering College Ground. However, the sporting public are really glad and congratulate the Tournament Committee for scratching the unconstitutional elements out from this tournament for 1909 and 1910.

In this connection, the attention of the committee is also drawn to the fact that some players appeared on the field with their loin cloths on which is highly objectionable. Why not adopt and follow the Madras inter collegiate trophy rule which requires every player to turn up in pantaloons? This slovenly habit of loin cloth business in a cricket field is not only an eye sore but also it will interfere with the free use of one’s legs, and a player with dhoti on also runs the risk of being out for “obstructing the ball.”

Now coming to batting, bowling and fielding in this tournament from a critic’s point of view. On the whole there is a decided improvement in batting and bowling. Fielding though not bad, yet requires a deal of improvement. Till now the only team that knocked up some centuries is the M.U.C.; B. Singara Babu made 110 in the match between the M.U.C. and the Friends’ eleven. Here a word of praise must be given to the Friends’ eleven, for, although they were mere juveniles and beginners yet they completely played both innings without any kind of grumbling. Nor did they show any white feather. B. Subramanium knocked up two centuries, 119 and 131 and his game is safe and reliable; but a little more dash will add lusture to his consistent game. M. Yethrajulu plays a quick and fine game; but lacks patience and the lilliputian players made 68 runs only.

Kuppal Reddy of the Q.J.C.C. made 69 against P.C.C. This batsman plays a very restrained game and looks nervous which makes his strokes feeble.

V. Ramanjulu of the M.A.U. made 53 against T.U.C. He is the eldest son of the late Mr. Buchi Babu Naidu and is quite a chip of the old block. “He has all the chances of turning out a powerful bat. Of all the bowlers the left-handed Manickam of the S.U.C. is par excellence. The M.U.C. surely carries off the palm for the worst exhibition of very poor and bad fielding.

The Q.J.C.C. continued their 2nd innings on the 9th instant. Kuppal Reddi one of the not-out players of the 2nd instant was late and at the request of the Q.J.C.C. Captain, the M.U.C. Captain waited till his arrival. They had to make 160 runs to save an innings defeat and when Mehanathan was given l.b.w. when their score stood at about 75 runs for 6 wickets, the Q.J.C.C. Captain declared the match in favour of the M.U.C. and withdrew his team from the field.

Scores: M.U.C. first innings 360 runs. Q.J.C.C. for first innings 199. Second innings 75 for 6w.