The Cricket Conference

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 5

The Cricket Conference

“After the Imperial Cricket Conference in London, it seemed to me that its failure was fundamentally due to the money angle,Surely the Board of Control’s meeting and its secret approach to the M.C.C. have provided complete confirmation of this opinion," said the farmer Australian test player, H. L. Hendry, in a letter published by the “Sydney Morning Herald” recently. “Australia’s whole approach to the question disgusts all who again want to see cricket played in its true spirit, with the actual results immaterial. Above all let us have fair play,” said Mr Hendry. Aggravated “Now the position is further aggravated. It is not mere conjecture that the board’s approach to the M.C.C. is: ‘Take action to ensure that none of our bowlers’ actions is queried; it is essential that the tour proceed without incident and in harmony of the great financial benefit it will be to us both, and especially to your counties’,” he said. “Australia squealed loudly when Harold Larwood bowled too well for our batsmen and our board protested to such an extent that the M.C.C. was prepared to cancel the rest of the tour—possibly there would have been no protests had Larwood been playing for Australia. If the Australian Board of Control followed out the precedent it would instruct its selectors not to pick anyone whose bowling action is suspicious. After all you and I and most of the board members know that some of them chuck. To argue otherwise is sheer hypocrisy. Away with ' all further subterfuge and clear the stage for decent cricket again.”