M.C.C. HOAXED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 9

M.C.C. HOAXED

CABLEGRAM FROM INDIA DROPPING CERTAIN PLAYERS, LONDON, August 23. Cricket circles are chuckling over a practical joke played on the Marylebone Cricket Chib authorities. A cablegram signed “ President, Indian Board of Control,” was received the other day asking the M.C.C. to drop certain players from the team to tour India. The M.C.C., apparently having learned to be canny during the long cabled negotiations with Australia, is understood to have repented the words of the cablegram back to India, adding: “Cannot believe you sent it.” The secretary of the Indian Board of Control considers the hoax to be deplorable, but intends to let the matter drop. Marylebone authorities declined to comment. The mystery is deepened by the disclosure that the president of the Indian Board of Control, Mr Govan actually cabled expressing a hope that D. R. Jardine’s injure would not prevent him from making the trip, and regretting that Wyatt, Sutcliffe, Hammond, and Paynter would be unable to come. Mr Govan also named several players whom India would like to see. He now says: " Possibly some cablegrams unknown to me were sent to Marylebone, but there is no mystery about the fact that I did cable them.”