Empire Cricket Booklet

THE ROLE OF THE PRESS

Whilst pressing for an early psychological advantage over the tourists, Finlason was able to make his point without antagonising Milton. He was aware that criticism in Milton's direction had already been delivered by the Cape Times, which, said Finlason, 'strongly protests against the Western Province Cricket Club taking all arrangements absolutely into their own hands without reference to the cricketers belonging to any other club ...'. Such dissatisfaction had prompted the Cape newspaper to call for a national controlling body - 'something after the style of the MCC' - to govern cricket. 12 It was not a development with which Finlason disagreed but, until it was formed, he was adamant that Kimberley should, as the champion centre, be playing a lead role in matters concerning the tour.

Finlason's forthright comments gained further attention when Frank Hearne arrived a few weeks ahead of the main party. The Kent all-rounder had been engaged as a player/coach by the Claremont Club in Cape Town. Finlason viewed the arrangement with suspicion and was determined that he would not be caught in a trap of that kind. 'The Cape Town cricketers,' he explained, 'seem to think that a month's coaching from Hearne will do them a lot of good ... It is not probable that the Cape Town men will master the things taught by Hearne in a single month, but it is likely that the pro' will learn all about the Cape Town bowling and batting. Such knowledge would be used with disastrous effect when Hearne plays with the other Englishmen against Cape Town.'

The 1888/89 English team Left to right, standing: B. A. F. Grieve, A. C. Skinner, A. J. Fothergill, J. M. Read, R. Abel Seated: C. A. Smith, Major Warton (manager), Hon. C. J. Coventry, J.E. P. McMaster, M. P. Bowden In front: J. H. Roberts, H.Wood Inset: J. Briggs, G. Ulyett, F. Hearne Coventry became one of Jameson's officers in the infamous Raid and Bowden joined Cecil John Rhodes's Pioneers in their march to Mashonaland