CHALLENGE TO M.C.C.?

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1938, Page 9

CHALLENGE TO M.C.C.?

THE CONTROL OF TOURS. SUGGESTION THAT IT SHOULD PASS TO THE BOARD OF CONTROL. The cricket records are all wrung when they state that England has played Test matches in Australia, India, the West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa. The team, which arrives In South Africa, for instance, is an M.C.C. team, chosen and approved by the committee of the Maryleborie Cricket Club, wears the M.C.C. touring colours, and is financied by the M.C.C. (states an English writer). The only representative England teams, and the only ones entitled to be labelled England, are those that play in England. Such is the farcical position. England plays Australia in England, but Australia plays the .M.C.C. in Australia. And similarly with all other' countries. Is there any other game on an international plane which is administered in such fashion ? ( Not before it is long overdue there is a move afoot to bring about a badly needed reform. The object of it i s - to transfer the control of official overseas tours to the English Board of Control, who are at present responsible solely for fest matches at home. The challenge will come nevt sunr mer when the M.C.C. have to select a team to undertake the tour of India, the provisional itinerary of whicti has just been issued by the Indian Board of Control. ' " There i s a feeling of grave concern among country cricket committees about this tour. Some are openly antagonistic towards it maintaining that previous tours to India have had a very harmful effect on players; - particularly fast bowlers, They ask, and with good reason. “Why should we be expected to give our star players permission to make a trip overseas which we are almost certain will seriously effect their form for the following English season?” While the counties have no say in M.C.C. overseas tours, they have the right to refuse permission to any of I heir players to undertake such a trip I cannot recall any county takings

such a drastic step when a piayei no.-' been chosen by the M.C.C. although on more than one occasion counties have “discouraged” one of their stars accepting an invitation to go on a privately arranged tour of IndiaAlf Gover went with Lord Tennison’s team last winter and, before the end of last summer. I should imagine, deeply regretted it. He was well in the running for Test honours against Australia, and he told me himself that he was convinced his bad form last season was entirely due to the winter tour. India is a particularly trying place for English players. In the course of two or three months thev cannot get used to the, heat, change of food, and' the train journeys. Stan Nichols, the Essex fast bowler, had a similar experience to Gover. He came back after a tour of India to have his worst season in England cricket for many years. Bowlers are more affected than batsmen, but even the latter are not immune. The Indian tour is almost as long as the Australia one. The party would have t 0 leave in September and would not get back until March. Is it surprising that counties are anxious? To have a star bowler or batsman right off form for a season is a serious matter. An alternative demand to the M.C.C. will be thjfrt the M.C.C. team for India should comprise at least 17 players, so that everybody in turn gets plenty of rest. In any case the team will not be anything like as strong as the one at present in South Africa.