Gubby Under Pressure

23 At Melbourne: 19, 20, 22 and 23 February, 1937. ¹ MCC 187 [L.E.G.Ames 64] and 132-3 [J.Hardstaff 60*, W.R.Hammond 56]: Victoria 292 [R.G.Gregory 86, A.L.Hassett 54]. Match drawn. Rain curtailed play on the first and second days and prevented it on the third. Allen had decided to skip playing in the next state match against New South Wales as well, but even though he delayed arriving in Sydney until the match was in progress, he had not shaken off the after effects of the demands made upon him in Canberra and reacted badly to continued pressure from all and sundry. A meeting with Howard, Robins and Wyatt convinced him that he should leave at once and extend his holiday from cricket affairs even further, including the next game in Melbourne against Victoria. Allen decided to take a three day drive by the coast road down to Melbourne and then spend a long weekend with friends relaxing by the sea. He would then have a couple of days clear for net practice before the Test match started and an opportunity to hear the opinions of Robins, Wyatt, Hammond and Leyland on team selection. A close look at the results and scores from the two state matches played in his absence would hardly have boosted his confidence. With Fishlock injured and Fagg sent home to convalesce from rheumatic fever, Allen was disturbed to hear that his squad might have been reduced even further, if the match against Victoria had not been curtailed when rain prevented any play on the final day. The fast bowler Nash had upset MCC batsmen with a stream of bouncers, any of which might have brought another injury. What was worse, the Australian selectors had included Nash in their thirteen names for the final Test, together with McCormick. Taking Robins with him as a witness, Allen met Bradman over lunch and said that if the selection of Nash and McCormick meant an onslaught of bouncers, he would feel free to retaliate and hold Bradman responsible. Not surprisingly Bradman resented this interference in his choice of players, but after further discussion, both captains agreed that occasional short-pitched balls at batsmen on either team would be acceptable. Hearing of the exchange of views between the captains and concerned for any unacceptable consequences, the Chairman of the Australian Board called the captains and the umpires together just before the start of play. Dr Robertson made it clear that the umpires had the power to stop intimidatory bowling and he expected them to act in accordance with the new Laws. As the Test proceeded and the agreement was maintained, the press became suspicious. Pollock asked Allen point blank if there had been a compact between the two captains and received the cryptic answer: ‘No, not a compact. But Don and I agreed that what would be sauce for the goose would be sauce for the gander.’ Having tried to apply pressure in the selection of the Australian side for the last Test, Allen now turned to consider his own team. Whatever the other selectors may have thought, he had finally lost patience with the inadequate performances of Robins in the first four Tests. Robins was dropped in favour of Worthington. Finding himself persona non grata with Allen, Robins did not stay around for long and, after watching the start of the Test, he went off shooting in South Australia. Seven months earlier at Lord’s, the MCC Committee had agreed there would be no objection to Robins returning to The cricket 57