Gubby Under Pressure

The letters 81 lot when we go into the field for the first Test but if we can have our first (and that is true) bit of luck at the start we might still do well. The wicket worries me rather. The one prepared for this match looks fast but no one has looked more than medium-paced on it and the ball has turned from the start. Verity bowled magnificently yesterday but Robbie has got one of his fits of the funks and simply won’t put himself on. If he won’t bowl as I told him last night how are we to find out how he is bowling or whether the wicket will take the spin. Farnes is bowling fairly well but yards slower than he did in the 2nd innings of the Gents and Players and Voce looks very moderate at present. If we decide on 2 fast bowlers it looks like myself and Farnes but I really don’t know and I don’t suppose any side has ever been in such an uncertain state so close to the first Test match as this one. All the people whom everyone thought were going to do so well such as Fishlock, Hardstaff and Voce have been such terrible failures so far. I must say they deserve to do much better as I have never known such a charming abstemious lot. I still believe Fagg will succeed, though he did make an awful shot on Friday. Tomorrow I am going out to play golf earlyish, so as to get back to the cricket by 1 o’clock and am going to the gymnasium in the evening about 6.0. On Tuesday I shall start bowling again and that will give me 3 good days practice before the match. I believe in doing it that way so as to get a complete rest from every now and then. Dick and Denis are flying up here on Friday morning and staying until the match looks settled one way of the other. I am delighted at the selection of Sievers as I think he is a very moderate cricketer. The selection of umpires also pleases but what a dreadful struggle I had. I am afraid I was very rude INDEED to one of the members of the Board of Control in Sydney on the subject. The position was this: I had told the representatives in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane that I did not want Barlow and sure enough he was submitted, with Borwick, for my approval. That was more than I could bear and I told him very straight that I had certainly come out with the intention of being amiable to everyone but not to be made a fool of at the same time. I also told him that if that was the best they could do I did not wish to be consulted on the subject in future as it appeared to me to be a case of in-sulting not con-sulting. When I heard of the change I wired my thanks to the Chairman of the Board and the man I had been so rude to as I hope peace is restored again. Must go to bed and will finish later. What a wonderful shot those Selection Trust shares were!! I see they were quoted at 36/- exactly 4 times what we paid for them. I do hope Johnnie hasn’t sold them too early. I can’t tell you how pleased I am about it as we now have got back a good bit of the capital which Basil lost. Dec 1st Mail goes this afternoon and as I have a very busy day ahead of me I must finish this off while waiting for my breakfast, Barnett and Fagg batted splendidly yesterday but Hardstaff was again dreadful and Fishlock pretty shaky. Weather is lovely though on the hot side. Several letters and paper cuttings came from you yesterday and a nice long letter from Plum. Please thank him for me. My very best love to Mum. I am so glad she has found a better place to live in. Best love Obbie P.S. Thanks for your many letters and paper cuttings, which I love getting. Letter Thirteen Belle Vue Hotel Brisbane Dec 6 1936 Darling Mum, I am afraid this going to be only a very short note as we are in the middle of the Test match and time is short. We have so far had 2 days play and though we can hardly claim that we are in a winning position I think we have just got the better of things for the moment as they have to bat last and the wicket may break up. It certainly has shown no signs of doing so so far but, if we can make 450 on it next time and we certainly ought to, it might be a different story. The best bit of news to my mind is that I believe that O’Reilly has lost much of his cunning and if