Protests At D’Oliveira’s Exclusion ‘lrrelevant’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 13

Protests At D’Oliveira’s Exclusion ‘lrrelevant’

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

JOHANNESBURG.

South African cricket officials last night declined to comment on the exclusion of the coloured, Cape Town-born all-rounder, B. D’Oliveira, from the M.C.C. side to tour South Africa later this year.

“I’d rather not say anything about that. The selectors know why they don’t pick a man,” said Mr E. Rowan, a former Springbok test player and convener of the Transvaal Cricket Union’s selection committee.

Mr Rowan said the M.C.C. party seemed to be a well-balanced team, but he thought that some of the players were “a little long in the tooth for international cricket.”

The secretary of the South African Cricket Association (Mr D. Bursnall) also refused to be drawn on the omission of B. D'Oliveira. He said the England team would provide South Africa with a stern challenge, and he praised the combination of “a number of youngsters with more experienced players.”

In London, Richard Streeton. an A.A.P.-Reuter cricket writer, said widespread but irrelevant protests from both the cricket world and those outside it seem certain to follow D’Oliveira's omission. Inevitably the cricketing reasons for the decision that the South African player should not be in the side would be overlooked, said Streeton.

"There will be a flood of allegations that M.C.C. has deliberately shirked the issues which would arise if the now British-naturalised D'Oliveira toured his native land.

“M.C.C. officials—aware of the uproar bound to ensue—were extraordinarily frank at

the press conference when the team was announced.

“England cricket selectors do not usually give their reasons for and against their touring choices. But tonight at Lord's they departed from the traditional secrecy of the committee room.

“Mr D. Insole, chairman of the selectors, explained in effect how D'Oliveira had been considered only as a batsman. His bowling overseas on hard pitches was not considered significant. “Clearly the selectors have studied closely performances during the M.C.C.'s tour of the West Indies earlier this year,” said Streeton. “Both D'Oliveira and the hard-hit-ting C. Milburn—another unexpected omission from the South African visit—failed dismally in the Caribbean. “Milburn did not even get into the test team while D'Oliveira scored only 137 runs, an average of 22.83, and

took three wickets at 97.66 each in the five games. D’Oliveira also made some costly errors in the field. “Everybody will sympathise with D'Oliveira, who has achieved world-wide respect in one Of the most remarkable careers in cricket history. “D'Oliveira, who is expected to coach in South Africa, may yet be called on by the M.C.C. as a replacement if injuries arise and he meets the requirements needed. Mr Insole made a point of confirming this,” Streeton said. A “Daily Mirror” columnist, Peter Wilson, said that in future M.C.C. would stand for “mighty colour-conscious.”

“In the bad old days, it used to be the colour of your tie which was of paramount importance," Wilson wrote. “Now the colour of your skin seems to transcend all logical and sporting reasons.” Wilson said that in 16 test

matches D’Oliveira had averaged more than 50 runs. He was one of the chief architects of England’s win in the final test against Australia. His 158 was the fastest century of the series. The role of the M.C.C. In “this squalid affair” was “as incomprehensible as it is, to me, despicable,” Wilson said. The “Guardian” said Mr Insole had justified the omission on the ground that the M.C.C thought it had better players in the side. “Anyone prepared to swallow that would believe that the moon is a currant bun,” the newspaper said. The M.C.C. selectors, with craven expediency, had declined even to risk a test case. “What a miserable performance it is.” The former West Indies cricketer. Sir Learie Constantine, wrote in the “Daily Sketch”: “I have ap uneasy feeling that South African objections to a coloured man being in the England touring team is the background to the M.C.C. bombshell.” In “The Times” John Woodcock said he thought the selectors had made the right decision, although some would no doubt accuse them of prejudice or cowardice. As the selectors saw it O'Oliveira did not rate as a test-match bowler overseas. “He is an indifferent fielder and beside the other batsmen he failed to make the grade," Woodcock wrote.

The M.C.C. party is: C Cowdrey (Kent captain); T. Graveney (Worcestershire, vicecaptain), K. Barrington (Surrey), G. Boycott (Yorkshire), D. Brown (Warwickshire), T. Cartwright (Warwickshire), B. Cottam (Hampshire), J. Edrich (Surrey), K. Fletcher Essex), A. Knott (Kent), J. Murray (Middlesex), R. Prideaux (Northamptonshire). P Pocock (Surrey), J. Snow (Sussex), and D. Underwood (Kent). One place has been left vacant for another fast bowler.