Gubby Under Pressure

Even four days after arrival in Perth Allen remained optimistic: ‘Howard has gone down very well and I must say I think he is absolutely charming and no one could be more enthusiastic about his work or more helpful.’ But a week later Allen was definitely not happy with the way things were going: ‘Howard is absolutely charming and very popular with everyone, and most efficient, but this is his first trip abroad and he leaves me to make all the decisions.’ Nevertheless, they were only two weeks into the tour and Allen still had high hopes for an improvement: ‘When he has had more experience, I am certain he will be the best manager who ever accompanied an MCC team.’ Another week’s experience proved quite the opposite. After injuries to Robins and Wyatt, Allen now groused, ‘it looks as though I shall have to captain, manage and “nurse” the side for the next six weeks. Howard is charming and most efficient, but he makes me make all the decisions, even as to how much to give in tips everywhere, with the result that after the hard and anxious month which I have just had, I am dead beat this evening.’ Desperately hoping for the best, Allen still clung to the belief that Howard would eventually rise to the occasion: ‘However, as I said before, he will be superb after we have been in each state once and I am sure Brown of Notts. would not have been in the same class.’ Three weeks later Allen wrote to Warner with an update on how the tour was progressing. The problems with Howard were continuing and once again Allen had cause for complaint: ‘Howard is absolutely charming and is going to be a splendid manager, but this is his first tour and he won’t lift his little finger without consulting me. The result is I have to decide on the amount of the tips, arrange the rooms, the sleeping compartments on the train and interview all the Press and the doctors.’ Fortunately, this is the last letter in which Allen recorded any criticism of Howard’s performance. Allen’s belief that, given time, the manager would eventually learn to take over and do his job unsupervised, must have been justified. Either that, or Allen was just too preoccupied to make the appropriate decisions and Howard stopped bothering him. Certainly, by the time the first four Tests had been played, Allen was in no fit state, mentally or physically, to play any effective role in the management of the touring party. He even had doubts about his ability to actually play in the vital Fifth and final Test. It was then that Howard proved his worth. In a discussion between Allen, Howard, Robins and Wyatt, it was agreed that Allen should take a sabbatical and drive down the attractive sea coast route to Melbourne and enjoy a complete break. Left in charge, Howard ensured that all the arrangements for the final three weeks of the tour were in place and with the experienced hand of Ferguson the baggage master, the transfer from Australia to New Zealand and then on to America proceeded without mishap. Did Allen over-react to Howard’s indecision at the start of the tour and frighten the relatively inexperienced manager into believing he had to clear everything with the captain first? Was it really necessary for Allen to allow himself to get involved in such routine matters as tips and room arrangements? Perhaps Allen was flattered by Howard’s request for the benefits of his previous touring experience in Australia and enjoyed showing off his knowledge. Whether as a Managing the show 17