Gubby Under Pressure

Tests.’ And Allen’s claim that his cricket had been ‘killed’ by demands of official engagements is contradicted by his actual performance in Test matches - a batting average higher than Ames, Fagg and Worthington, while only Voce, with 26 victims, captured more wickets than Allen, who had 17. At least the end of the tour was in sight. ‘We shall soon be on the way home and, though I have enjoyed it, I shall be glad when the day comes.’ Allen’s relief did not extend to considering having another crack at winning the Ashes in 1940/41, because in the same letter he goes on to declare emphatically: ‘No one could name me a sum of money to tempt me to do this job again in Australia with a weak side; there just isn’t so much money in the world.’ The reference to having a ‘weak side’ is rather unkind, even if it has more than a grain of truth in it, and Allen conveniently forgets he had played a leading role in its selection. In normal circumstances, the captain of an MCC touring team would be expected to return to Britain with the rest of the party. But Allen was very keen to take a holiday in California and stay with friends he had made in Hollywood four years before. To do so, he would need the permission of the club and he delayed his request until he was sure nothing untoward could happen after the separation which might reflect badly on his decision to leave the players to their own devices. ‘I have not yet cabled to the MCC about staying three weeks in America, as I am waiting to see if any trouble breaks out. Nothing goes wrong as a rule when one is winning, but when there are sorrows to drown trouble might start.’ Was he expecting the professionals suddenly to turn into a bunch of ‘lager louts’ smashing up bars and upsetting the natives? But it would have to have been something even more serious than that to stand any chance of standing in his way. ‘However, I feel at present that I have simply got to have a longish holiday, or I will never look up again, so I will almost for certain send the cable soon after I reach New Zealand.’ By the time the team sailed for New Zealand, Allen had enjoyed over a week of hectic days and nights saying his farewells to friends and family, without the distractions of any first-class cricket to get in the way. ‘I am sorry that the Australian part of the trip is over, which is natural as I had been looking forward to it for so long, but I could not feel sad about it as I did last time. I really felt so tired that I was just longing for the boat and this bed. I think being made a fuss of in public is the most exhausting thing I have ever experienced and if it means anything to some people they can have all my share of it.’ The short sea voyage proved to be beneficial up to a point. ‘My three days in bed on the way to N.Z. did me good, but I am still a wreck.’ But Allen was still suffering after his fifty-third official speech. ‘You will never believe how much the whole thing has taken out of me. I wouldn’t do it again under the same circumstances for any sum of money you could name.’ Nearly three weeks travelling around New Zealand, with only a couple of first-class games to play and no Test matches, did nothing to improve Allen’s attitude. Once at sea again he returned to his usual theme: ‘I reckon I was nearer to a mental storm when I came on board this boat than I have ever been or ever shall be again, I hope.’ As Allen sails across the Pacific into the sunset, it seems an appropriate moment to conclude this litany of lamentation. He would get his holiday in Hollywood and his last three letters home are packed with gossip and stories of Managing the show 32