Gubby Under Pressure

relatives and friends whose company he had to forego in deference to the exigencies of his position as captain of the MCC touring party. And people were still making demands! Allen’s latest condition is accurately summed up by Meredith: ‘Bowling flat-out on bone hard Australian grounds had taken its toll; he was suffering from strained thigh muscles and was physically drained. His natural enthusiasm for sight-seeing, driving long distances and meeting family and business contacts had exacerbated matters. Above all, he was exhausted by the heavy demands of public speaking and generating goodwill at every port of call. He had difficulty in controlling his temper. In particular, he became sensitive to the suggestions now being made, that he had been ‘very lucky to have won the first two Tests.’ And Harris confirms Allen had confessed to him, at the time, that ‘he was finding it difficult to remain polite to people.’ Allen realised that his condition would only deteriorate further if he stayed on in Sydney and then travelled down to Melbourne with the team to play in the last state match before the final Test. So he called a council of war with Howard, Robins and Wyatt, who were apparently coping very well without him. ‘I discussed it at long length with Howard, Robbie and Bob and we all came to the conclusion that it was better for me to keep away for a few more days and miss the State match in Victoria. I shall not have played since the Fourth Test match in Adelaide when I go into the field for the last Test, but judging by how I was feeling up in Sydney, I don’t think any good could have been done by playing in the state match at Melbourne tomorrow.’ Taking Arthur Mailey with him for company, Allen set off to drive down the coastal road at their leisure for the next few days, putting all the cares of cricket out of his mind. The journey may not have been quite as relaxing as he had hoped, for at one stage they found themselves completely surrounded by bush fires, and while staying in a country hotel he wrote: ‘I have just killed the most enormous tarantula which has put me off a bit.’ Allen’s extra three week break from cricket did not go down well with Warner, when he heard about it back in England and it was not forgotten. When Warner came to write Cricket Between Two Wars , in 1941, he observed: ‘during so long a rest one is apt to lose the atmosphere of a big ground and a big match. My own view is that he should have played v Victoria for the match practice it would have afforded and given himself a few overs just to get into the swing of things.’ What Warner didn’t know was that ‘the swing of things’ was what Allen had been desperately trying to avoid! Despite the rest and recuperation, when it came to playing again Allen still complained during the final Test that he considered himself hard done by. ‘I must say I have worked myself to death and am now nothing like half fit to play Test cricket. In my report to MCC, I am going to make a large reference to the life of a captain and implore them to protect future captains from the nonsense I have had to put up with. No English captain since the war has succeeded at cricket in Australia and the answer is obvious. I was all right until they wore me out but that is no good to me. It is no use my trying to hide my feelings. I am terribly, terribly disappointed especially after having got so near to my greatest ambition. However I shall get over it.’ Managing the show 30