Gubby Under Pressure

At about this time Allen had the difficult job, not referred to in his letters, of telling Ken Farnes that his mother had been killed in a car crash. It is evident that Farnes was very close to his mother and the news affected him very deeply. Farnes, however, was selected for the last two Tests, ‘bowling with great heart’, although he had been rather lethargic earlier in the tour. Time to recover in Tasmania 15 At Launceston: 9 and 11 January, 1937. ¹ Tasmania 104 [J.M.Sims 4-20] and 209 [S.W.L.Putman 77, J.M.Sims 5-39]: MCC 317 [A.E.Fagg 60, T.S.Worthington 77, L.E.G.Ames 109, J.Hardstaff 55, S.W.L.Putman 5-87]. MCC won by an innings and four runs. 16 At Launceston: 12 January, 1937. Not first-class. MCC 250 [D.H.Thollar 5-67]: Tasmanian XI 145-5. Match drawn. There would be a three week break between the Third and Fourth Tests in which MCC would have time to travel to Tasmania for two matches and return to Adelaide for a warm-up match with South Australia. Allen decided to stay over in Melbourne for the first week in order to take the opportunity to mix some business with pleasure. He planned to join his team in time for the second match, which would be against a strengthened Tasmania Combined XI, featuring Grimmett, Ward and Oldfield from the mainland states. Apart from working each day with the Australian partner of the stockbroking firm Allen was associated with in London, he also spent time with members of some of the most powerful Australian financial organisations. Wyatt was going to make his return to action at last for the matches in Tasmania, so despite Allen’s change of attitude to Robins, he had no reservations about sending the team out under Robins with Wyatt there to keep an eye on things. The first game was easily won in two days, so a one-day game was quickly arranged to fill the third day. 17 At Hobart: 15, 16 and 18 January, 1937. ¹ MCC 418 [C.J.Barnett 129, J.Hardstaff 110, G.O.B.Allen 55] and 111-1 [R.E.S.Wyatt 68*]: Combined XI [W.A.S.Oldfield 60*, K.Farnes 4-31, W.H.Copson 4-32]. Match drawn. Rain prevented play on the third day. Allen managed to extend his stay in Melbourne for a further couple of days by convincing the MCC President, Lord Somers, who was in Melbourne on holiday himself, that if he gave Allen permission to fly over to Tasmania, it would mean an extra two days treatment on his knee. The rest certainly did Allen some good as he eventually returned to the side with a brisk half-century and three overs of bowling practice. His spirits were lifted too, by the sight of Wyatt showing no ill effects from his long lay-off: ‘Bob Wyatt batted better for his 68 on Saturday night than I have ever seen him play. If he has struck real form, what a difference it will make. Farnes and Copson both bowled well here. Farnes looked very nasty and really fast and, if he reproduces that form against South Australia, we might easily bring him into the side for the Fourth Test.’ Robins’ fall from grace had continued and Allen spelt out to him, no doubt in private, a few home truths about his behaviour that, to be fair, Allen should have taken steps to correct right from the start of the tour. ‘The one real The cricket 53