NEXT AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. THE TERMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1908, Page 4

NEXT AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. THE TERMS.

A NEW ERA. j As announced the other day, a cablegram has been received in Sydney from the Marylebone C.G. intimating that the terms for the tour of 1909 would be the same as usual, i.e., half the gross gate. The English team last Bertson took a like share of the outer gate, and also a part of the grandstand receipts. Australians in England have { taken sixpence for every person who pays to get into the ground. - The question, (says the Sydney Morning Herald) that will occupy the attention of the Board of Control in connection with the terms generally will be what share the players will get. On former occasions, with the exception of one or two individual cases, it has been share and share, alike* One of the objects of the board is the control of financial matters in connection with Australian teams. There is a feeling of uncertainty amongst the players likely to comprise the team as to what will be their financial position. MR. F. A. IREDALE'S VIEWS. Mr F. A. Iredale, a member of the Board of Control, said :—: — "The ' English authorities for a long time wanted the management of English and Australian tours placed upon a footing removed from private enterprise or speculation. The change in England came four or five years ago, ' when M.C.C. sent out a team captained by P. F. Warner j and last .year the dub despatched a side under A. O. Jon.es. In the meantime came the formation of tho Board of Control, which was hailed in England as a step in the right direction, as putting to an end matters that have been more or less unsatisfactory for very many years. ' For instance, teams going to England have been in the habit of arranging their own programme, or getting their representative in England to do so, and as gate money enters largely into these undertakings every day in the week from the beginning to the- end is occupied. The men themselves have complained that they were at times unfit owing to the amount of work and travelling they had to do. " The board in cabling to the M.C.C. with regard to the programme suggested that there should be rest before and after test matches ;" that is, the day before should be one of rest for the team. It does not matter so, much about the batsmen, but it is the bowlers who feel the weight of the work. There are always two leading bowlers, and if j Yorkshire or Lancashire, or some such stiong county, is the match preceding a test, -your best, bowlers are worn out. The board thinks that by limiting the match immediately prior to a test to two days, if beginning in midweek, sufficient rest would be obtained to enable the men lo be properly fit for the International engagements. We want to place cricket first, and takings second. The rest afterwards, though a good idea, need not be enforced. "Regarding the players' shares of the proceeds, the question of departing fifom the old regime will no doubt have to be considered if we are to carry out what the M.C.C. strongly desires us to do. I am personally in favour of a liberal allowance if the profits will stand it. English authorities recognise that the conditions in Australia are far different from what they ajre in England, and if we may desire to pay a player a settled amount it does not necessarily follow that its receipt will ma^e him a professional. The departure of the next team to England will mark a new era in Australian cricket. Let it be stnct'y understood tnat whatever the board may do will be entirely in the interest of the game first, and what has been strongly urged upon us by authorities in England." THE PLAYERS' VIEWS. Some of the players were seen and their views upon the matter may be summed up as follows :—: — "Australian teams in England receive 6d from the outside gates ; people have to pay at the outside gate before 'they can get into the grandstand. "As to the suggestion with regard to the profits to members of the team, every man is entitled to his share of what the team is capable of drawing, and should it ever happen that a limit be placed upon the players' shares, that is, should they receive a fixed amonnt, there will be a good deal of discontent 'straight away; and, besides, each man who accepted a fixed amount would bejSfime a j>vofessioaaU, DjojcUwbledly, he

would be considered a professional in England. "If will be found that should a limit be decided upon we will not be able to get our best men to go. You will get a team of course, but some of the best men will be missing. There is a vast difference between accepting a settled sum for services rendered and an uncertain amount. Under conditions of previous tours every member was treated as an amateur, and is regarded as such now. "The Board of Control must get the best team to go, as it is its initial effort. If a weak combination goes to England the prestige of the board as the governing body will be gone. "Some time ago it was stated as not being the intention of the board to interfere with the profit.,. F. S. Jackson, in his letter, said that the invitation should be extended to the team on the old lines, and with no new conditions."