Gubby Under Pressure

he could better share the burdens, he was totally unprepared for the pressures that awaited him in Australia. Problems with the manager Captain Rupert Howard – he was later a Major – had seemed a good choice to deal with all the team’s day-to-day domestic arrangements. Allen would be free to concentrate on the all-important playing side of the tour. It was not to be so straightforward. Howard had spent the previous four years working at Old Trafford under the iron hand of Tommy Higson, a Chairman who expected things to be done his way, right or wrong, without question. For the next eight months he was expected to carry out his new duties to the satisfaction of another hard taskmaster, the charismatic new captain of England, Gubby Allen, an old Etonian/Cambridge stockbroker who already served on the MCC Committee and had the support of Pelham Warner and fellow selector Higson. Either because of an overawareness of his own inexperience, or in deference to an impatient, dominating Allen, the manager failed initially to take control of his responsibilities to the captain’s satisfaction. Perhaps Allen’s expectations were too high. Five days after sailing Allen wrote: ‘Howard is going to be a great success and a great help to me.’ Two weeks later, Allen was still impressed: ‘Howard is very nice indeed. Most efficient and very popular with everyone.’ Managing the show 16 MCC assembling for a formal picture session aboard SS Orion . Left to right: Rupert Howard (manager), R.E.S.Wyatt, M.Leyland, G.Duckworth (back to camera), G.O.B.Allen, T.S.Worthington, W.H.Copson.