Cricket 1891

“ Toge ther joined in cricket’s m an ly to il.5’— Byron. Begistered^tor*Truumission'Abroad. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26,1891.PRI0E2 ANOTHEK AUSTKALIAN TEAM. T he announcement in the last number of C rioket that Mr. Victor Cohen, the treasurer of the New South Wales Asso­ ciation, had made up his mind to proceed with the negotiations for the visit o f an Australian team to England next summer, as everyone knows now, has not met with the approval of some of the most influen­ tial clubs which have previously figured in the Australian programmes. On the contrary, the receipt of the formal en­ quiry from the representative of the Aus­ tralians here whether it was the wish of the several clubs to make fixtures with the team seems to have been the signal for immediate action. A resolution of Middlesex to the effect that, in face of the feeling expressed in 18b9 “ that the M.C.C. and the other counties should be consulted before the next Australian team came to England any arrangements were premature, followed by an expression of opinion that, in the interests of county cricket, it was advisable that the visits of the Australian cricketers should be de­ ferred for the present,” circulated among the principal counties was not without effect. At least, the result has been a strong opposition to the proposed visit, an opposition supported by Middlesex, Somersetshire, Notts, Lancashire, Kent, Yorkshire, and Sussex. The objection has been the same in many if not most of the cases, “ that the counties have not been consulted as recommended by the Cricket Council in 1889.” To some, it would appear a little strange that a reference should be made to a court whose functions have been long suspended, and resolutions invoked of a body whose functions have neces­ sarily been suspended. We have frequently had occasion to express our regret that a Council for the regulation of all matters relating to County cricket is not now in existence. Had it been still at work, the manager of the Aus­ tralian team would have, it is certain, solicited its co-operation, as was done by Mr. H. F. Boyle in the’;case of the last visit. The want of such a body must explain to any reasonable person the absence of any formal and direct applica­ tion from Australia. But after all, is not the contention that the leading Counties have not been consulted sugges­ tive of the process of hair splitting ? We are assured that in the ordinary course an application would have been made to the clubs interested some time before. As it was, the uncertainty about Giffen joining the team rightly or wrongly sug­ gested the advisability of awaiting further developements, or at least more definite information, belore a formal com­ munication was made to the English clubs. Giffen’s presence, it was. repre­ sented from Australia, was essential to the tour. The remarks in one of the leading Melbourne papers that his refusal would cause the abandonment of the tour, certainly led Australians capable of judging here to such a belief. In any case a notice of six weeks before tho meeting of the County Secretaries would appear to be more than sufficient to meet the con­ venience of the Clubs here. At any rate as none, or at all events very few, of them had.even met to decide on their pro­ grammes for the season their arrange­ ments could not have suffered. It is difficult, indeed, to believe the con­ tention that the Counties had not been consulted as seriously meant. Nor does it to an ordinary mind appear a satis­ factory explanation that the Counties had not been consulted. The probability of such a visit had been an open secret for months. The formal announcement of such a visit was consequently in no-way a surprise, indeed, some of the County clubs in the North as well as the South had been speculating on it. In the letter, as well as the spirit, the resolution of 1889, that the M.C.C. and the chief counties should be consulted before another Australian team visited England, it may reasonably be urged, had been strictly carried out. Great stress has been laid on the fact that the circular of October 24, asking the Clubs whether they proposed to make fixtures, stated that the team would visit England. No doubt it would have been better with the reservation of “ D.V., the M.C.C., and the chief counties permitting.” But surely, this looks like begging the ques­ tion. Any announcement, however definite, of such a trip, must be conditional, dependent on the assent of the various organisations on this side. An Australian team could not visit England to play cricket, unless there was somebody to play them: We refrain from pointing out the evident inconsistencies in the attitude of some of the complainants, though in one case in particular it went to the extent of a complete volte face. Of course the Clubs are the best judges of their own affairs. No one will gainsay that The Australians themselves would take no exception to a reasonable and temper­ ate expression of opinion. At the same time Audi Alteram Partem is a good motto. It ought to be superfluous to suggest an equal amount of consideration for those who are unfortunate enough to hold opposite views. What purpose would have been served by an earlier application to the Counties in the exist­ ing uncertainty it would be difficult to say. The result would have been the same, a reference to the Australian Manager. Obviously the proper persons to consult on the propriety of another visit of Australian Cricketers, always saving a representative and recognised body, were the Clubs which had been pre­ viously identified with their programmes, and not one particular Club or combina­ tion of clubs. Whether the team will come now remains co be seen. Inviewofthe im­ moderate expressions of opinion which have appeared in some of the English papers, we do not for a moment think they will. At the same time we cannot help expressing our own regret at the “ joint protest” which it has been thought fit to publish. No one can view the introduction of the boycott into cricket, we feel sure, with anything but distaste. It is much to be deplored that any disagreement should have arisen, and no one deplores it more than ourselves. Still it would be well to place on record the feelings of those who have been consulted, i.e., the Clubs who figured in the last list in particular.