Die Allianz T-D-P » standings, removed Fargana Hoque (19).Edwards

The year is 1950 and 12-year-old Johnny Gleeson has picked up an illustrated article about the finger-flicking Australian Test bowler Jack Iverson, dubbed the mystery spinner because Englands Ashes squad of that summer were bemused and puzzled by his bizarre spinning craft. To the Englishmen, Iverson was a veritable Mr Magic - a seeming offbreak turned from leg and what appeared to be a legbreak came back into the right-hander. Iverson took 21 wickets at 15.23 in that series before treading on a ball in the Adelaide Test. He hobbled through the fifth match and never played big cricket again.But his finger-flicking mystery bowling style immediately held great fascination for young Gleeson, whose slender long fingers were ideal for spinning a ball and especially well-suited to the folded-finger grip used by Iverson.Gleeson began his cricketing life as a wicketkeeper, and when he moved from Tamworth to Sydney in 1956, he kept in the lower grades for Western Suburbs. In secret, he trained alone, trying to master the finger flick.In 1958, at the age of 20, Gleeson returned to Tamworth and won selection for an overseas tour of Canada with the Emu Club. Frustrated that his bowlers couldnt make inroads in the opposition batting, he shed the pads and began to bowl his Iverson style.He first bowled in a serious match in Melbourne in 1964, turning out for the Australian Postal Institute. Gleesons deliveries mystified all and sundry that day, many beating the bat and the keeper.By the summer of 1965-66, Gleeson was the first-choice spinner for Gunnedah. Jack Chegwin, a great promoter of country cricket in New South Wales, took sides with current and ex-Test cricketers in them to the outlying areas, ever on the lookout for raw talent. Gleeson took wickets in one such match and delighted in getting the chance to bowl to Richie Benaud, one of his boyhood heroes.Benaud knew exciting talent when he saw it and he took a big interest in Gleeson, advising him to the Balmain Club, of which the secretary was Fred Bennett, who was destined to one day become chairman of the Australian Cricket Board.Gleeson got bags of wickets for Balmain, and in 1966-67 he made his debut for NSW, in Perth. He bowled 23 overs into the wind but found operating on the hard, true surface at the WACA less than great. Her took one wicket and was made to carry the drinks in the next match, in Adelaide.Sir Donald Bradman, then chairman of the Test selectors, met NSW captain Brian Booth on the eve of the match and asked him who was going to be 12th man.Johnny Gleeson, Booth said confidently.Well, thats the first mistake youve made this game.When NSW batted, Bradman asked Gleeson if he would like to accompany him to the nets and bowl to him. Bradman was 58 then. He wore neither pads nor gloves. Half a dozen balls from Gleeson were enough for him to say, Thanks John. By the end of the season I think youll be playing for Australia.Gleeson toured New Zealand with an Australian 2nd Xl in 1967, and by December that year he made his Test debut against India. He played in all four Tests, taking the last three wickets in Brisbane to help Australia win by 39 runs, and was a certain pick for the tour to England in 1968.He was dubbed Cho (Cricket Hours Only), because, apart from the nets or at the ground, he was never around. Maybe he wanted to maintain the mystery.Once, upon our arrival at the Waldorf Hotel, our London home away from home, there was captain Bill Lawry talking about playing bright cricket (so long as we win) and Cho fast asleep in the background, his head resting on Garth McKenzies broad right shoulder.I roomed with Cho on that 1968 tour, and one day asked how the publicity affected him. Doesnt worry me in the slightest, he said. Never read the newspapers. Next, I found him trying to close the lid on a suitcase overflowing with newspaper cuttings about one mystery finger-flick bowler John Gleeson.Lawry managed his fast and medium-paced attack brilliantly, but when it came to spin, though he could play it well, he didnt understand spinners. However, Lawry did like the way Gleeson bowled. Cho operated with a flat trajectory and was more at home on a green top than a slow, dusty turner, thus complementing the likes of the fast men McKenzie, Alan Connolly and Neil Hawke.Gleeson struggled to make an impact in India in 1969-70, apart from the Bombay Test, where the wicket had bounce and pace. He made an impact of a different sort on the last day of our match against South Zone in Bangalore a month later.Set 200 runs to get in two hours, we collapsed to the masterly spin of Erapalli Prasanna, who, by the fall of our sixth wicket, had the incredible figures of 6 for 9 off nine overs. Barnacle Bill Lawry was battling for a draw at the other end when Cho strolled to the wicket and spoke quietly to square-leg umpire BR Nagaraja Rao before heading to chat to the official at Prasannas end, NS Rishi.That done, Cho leaned over his bat, rejecting the umpires request to take guard, quipping, Not required, Mr Umpire. I took guard in Bombay weeks ago.While Lawry defended stoically, Gleeson either padded away or hit out.Stumps were drawn five minutes before the scheduled close because a section of the crowd began throwing stones.Lawry had batted for an unconquered 10, Cho was not out 18, and Australia at stumps were 90 for 8. There were back slaps all round for the two players, but Ian Chappell, Doug Walters and others were far more interested in what Cho had said to the umpires.Well, I said to the ump at square leg: Mr Umpire, if you give me out lbw, I will wrap this bat about your head. And I said the same thing to the other umpire.In my minds eye I can see Cho now. He moves in with a funny gait, a bit like a comical mix of Groucho Marx and Ronnie Corbett. Hes not a short man, but stays low. The delivery doesnt make a fizzing sound like Prasannas or Shane Warnes. It glides out of that folded-finger grip, always on target but devoid of what we call loop or shape.Unknowing batsmen were easily snared by Cho, who really was a master of deceit. Even if the ball went as straight as a gun barrel, his body language was a distraction for the unwary. His crowning glory was probably his bowling against the powerful South African batting line-up, headed by Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Eddie Barlow and Mike Procter, in 1969-70. Only Richards could play Gleeson effectively. When asked by others, including his team-mates, Richards would say: If you go after it and hit the ball just as it lands, it matters not which way the ball turns.Barlow tried that against Cho in the third Test, in Johannesburg, but didnt quite get to the pitch of the ball, and keeper Brian Taber stumped him yards short of his ground.In the four Tests, Gleeson bowled 255 overs and took 19 wickets at 38.94. He bowled a good deal better than his figures reflect.His bowling mystified many a good batsman, and Ray Illingworths 1970-71 Ashes squad was no exception. In Sydney, John Edrich waltzed up the pitch for a mid-wicket chat with his opening partner, Geoff Boycott.Hey Boycs, Edrich said joyfully, Ive just worked out Gleeson. I know for sure where each ones going.Oh, is that all, Ede? Boycott laughed, I worked Cho out two Tests ago, but dont tell those boogers in the dressing room.Gleeson was a great character. He had the dry, quirky sense of humour of the bush-based folk of the outback Australia of long ago. He spoke with passion about bowling, especially spin bowling, and the mystery of the finger-flicking style. Just as he loved the Iverson way, Cho delighted in Ajantha Mendis similar finger-flicking styleNow, sadly, Cho has gone. He proved to us all that some wicketkeepers can turn their hand successfully to spin bowling.So long, Cho. Fond memories of you and your cricket will stay in our hearts forever.Jordan 1 High China .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Retro Air Jordan 1 OG Chicago White Mens . 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Jordan 1 Banned Wholesale . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.Captain Charlotte Edwards struck 60 off 50 balls as England Women launched their World Twenty20 campaign in style with a 36-run mauling of Bangladesh, in Bangalore. Edwards struck seven fours in her 11th fifty in T20 internationals - her first half-century in the format in 11 innings, since the unbeaten 75 made against South Africa at Northampton in September 2014.After England posted 153-7 Bangladesh fell well short despite posting their highest ever T20 score of 117-6 thanks to a new record fifth-wicket partnership of 64 between Salma Khatun and Nigar Sultana (35) - a stand broken by a neatly-executed Sarah Taylor stumping, made standing up to Anya Shrubsole (2-27).England went on the offensive after winning the toss; Tammy Beaumont (18 off 14) put on 34 in 4.1 overs with Edwards - lofting Salma for a glorious six over long on - before being bowled on the charge, looking to hit Jahanara Alam (3-32) across the line.Sarah Taylor (nine) struggled to find fluency despite an early scoop for two and was stumped by Sultana off Fahima Khatun as she attempted to force the pace.Two balls later Heather Knight drove a low catch back to Khadija Tul Kubra but from 71-3 Edwards pressed on to reach her fifty off 41 balls.The captain enjoyed a reprieve three runs later when the capped Salma shelled a routine caught and bowled chance and had another escape on 57 when Jahanara couldnt quite get across at extra cover.Nat Sciver (27 off 22), herself dropped at midwicket by Rumana off Salma on 26, couldnt make the most of the reprieve and picked out long on as she sougght to go over the top.ddddddddddddDanni Wyatt and Katherine Brunt kept up Scivers momentum after Edwards walked past a Rumana Ahmed delivery before falling to successive Jahanara deliveries at the end of the innings.Bangladesh, who had never scored more than 115 in a Twenty20, struggled from the first over of their chase - a wicket maiden in which Brunt (1-17) bowled Sharmin Akhter leg stump.Anya Shrubsole, currently No 1 in the T20 rankings, should also have struck in her opening over but Wyatt shelled a straightforward chance offered by Fargana Hoque before shed scored.The seamer swiftly made amends, forcing Ayasha Rahman to drive to Edwards at mid-off and 14-2 became 38-3 when Danielle Hazell (1-20), second to Shrubsole in the world standings, removed Fargana Hoque (19).Edwards impressive all-round display was capped when she slid, gathered and shied with success to run Rumana (19) out with a direct hit.England captain Charlotte Edwards: Its always nice to start with runs but the win is the most important thing. We got a good total and even though there is a bit we can do with our bowling and fielding it was a good all-round performance and run out. I will be talking about my run out and catch for some time!England coach Mark Robinson: I thought we were a bit safe on a really good wicket and lost our way and our intent in the middle overs - we dont want to be like that. We were also a bit lazy with our decision-making with the ball but maybe its good to leave a bit in the tank.Watch highlights of England Womens victory over Bangladesh Women at 6pm on Sky Sports 2. ' ' '