England, S. Africa ‘Unofficial Tests'

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 13

England, S. Africa ‘Unofficial Tests'

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 30. A secret diplomatic move between Lord’s and the South African Cricket Board _of Control has done much to relieve the political tensions that might well have undermined the M.C.C.’s current South African tour, the “Daily Mail” reported.

In a report from Johannesburg, the cricket writer, lan Wooldridge, said that South Africa, sore at being expelled from the Imperial Cricket Conference and denied reentry as an associate member, offered to scrap the term “test matches” altogether for the coming five-game series. They were prepared to accentuate their isolation from the rest of the cricketing world by billing them merely as “international matches.” This would publicly have relegated them to the status of the “occasionally slaphappy games” played by privatelyraised touring sides. Commendably, a leading English administrator talked them out of this folly, said Wooldridge. “Officially,” the administrator said, “it must be classified as an unofficial series. But, for heaven’s sake, don’t stop calling them tests.” Wooldridge said he was not at liberty to reveal the name of “this self-appointed diplomat.” But he had done much to reassure South African officials and to ensure big and harmonious crowds.