Empire Cricket Booklet

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MORE THAN A GAME

so that 99.1 per cent of the electorate in 1907 were white men.' Black political associations were already in force: the Natal Indian Con gr ess was formed in 1894, and the African Political (later People's) Organisation (representing coloured interests) and Natal Native Con gr ess were established at the tum of the century. 39 Milner appointed a South African Native Affairs Commission in 1903 to make recommendations to the various governments 'with the object of arriving at a common understanding against the day when South African federation would be achieved'. Leading the almost exclusively English-speaking commission was Sir Godfrey Lagden who, as British resident, had established cricket in Basutoland and then represented the MCC against the Army at Pretoria in 1905/06. He produced a report in 1905 on behalf of the commission, which 'reflected the High Commissioner's own concern for social planning, and introduced new rigidities into South African thinking about race relations which had an immense influence on later political debate. It formalised the idea of se gr egation which the Rhodes government and Milton had introduced in respect of land ownership and control through the Glen Grey Act in the Cape. 40 Milner's departure in 1905 was followed by the election of a Liberal government in Britain in early 1906. That resulted in self-government for the Transvaal (Louis Botha - Het Volk) and the Orange River Colony (Abraham Fischer - Orangia Unie) in 1907. The British Liberals 'were amazed at the results of their own"magnanimity"'. 41 Burridge Spies points out that it was ' gr ounded in a hard-headed belief that it was the most effectual way in South Africa to further Britain's economic and strategic interests'. The Liberals then followed up the development by encouraging delegates from all four southern African colonies to forge a single new South African dominion. They could call upon 'more general goodwill between white South Africans than there had been for a decade'. 42 And when in 1908 John X. Merriman became prime minister of the Cape Colony, 'it opened the way for real pro gr ess towards union'. Merriman was 'respected by Afrikaners in the former Boer Republics following his principled

stand during the war' and, 'putting aside the question of black rights, on which no agreement was possible, (he and) Smuts together shaped a future constitution, not on federal lines, as in Canada and Australia, which would have been comparatively easy, but as a single strong political entity'. 43 There were also changes in the administration of cricket as a result of the Board of Control for Test matches having been formed in England in 1898. The organisation of English touring sides after 1903 would be arranged by the MCC and their teams involved in official Test matches would play under the colours of the club. In South Africa, Abe Bailey was a key figure in the development of the cricketing power base of the empire. He was a former player and his investment in promoting the Wanderers and the Transvaal improved cricket resources in the country. Enticing the googly bowler, R. 0. 'Reggie' Schwarz, to South Africa soon after the war as Bailey's private secretary was pivotal to the future success; the South African side that Bailey financed on their tour to England in 1904 'did exceedingly well against the counties and the scene was set for South Africa's entry into Test match cricket on equal terms'. The tour was a springboard to fulfilling a cherished desire to defeat England: 'One is amazed,' wrote W. A. Bettesworth, 'at the pro gr ess which has been made by the South Africans in a matter of ten years. The pro gr ess of the Australians was very slow in comparison with it.' 44 The first Test victory - after seventeen years - and a subsequent 4-1 series win over England in 1905/06 'came as a severe shock' not only to the visiting players but to the cricket establishment at Lord's. 45 Even though they were not at full strength, the English did not for one moment expect that the 'colonials' would beat them. It was made more bearable only because Warner put it down to 'that gr it and courage which we are so proud of saying are inherent in the British race'. 46 South Africa had clearly built a very good team: 'The South African batting was so even that the order could be reversed without ill-effect; but it was the superb g6ogly bowling which carried the day.' 47 South African cricket had entered its own 'golden age'.