Empire Cricket Booklet

JONTYWINCH

commented Finlason. The lack of cricket knowledge within South African communities bothered him, as did the'fair amount of betting [which] has been and is being indulged in'. He thought that wagers on the results gave rise to the suggestion that players'cared more for what they had on the result than for the cricket itself'. 2 8

in the history of cricket touring has an English team made so miserable a start.' It described the situation as 'an almost national misfortune, despite all philanderings on the social aspect of the expedition. When we send men out to play cricket we want them to win, for if they cannot win our name goes down.' 32 It was a trying time for the visiting team. 'So far,' wrote Finlason, 'there can be no doubt that the Englishmen as teachers of cricket have not been a success.' 33 He thrived on the controversy that his unashamedly partisan comments provoked. He was not afraid to set himself up by predicting the downfall of one side or the other, nor was he bothered by having to compete against the players he deprecated. He believed that Kimberley was far superior to any other centre in the colony and could be compared favourably with the strength of most English counties. The two matches at Kimberley were inevitably bitter contests, in the course of which the tourists were outplayed. A Kimberley XVIII and a Cape Colony XV achieved ten-wicket victories to present a crisis situation for the tourists. At Kimberley, Finlason scored runs and captured wickets, including the fine figures of 6 for 25 in the second innings of the first match. Even Cadwallader had to admit that Finlason bowled'exceedingly well [and] sent down all kinds of balls, now a fast one and then a tempting round-arm lob with a good break on it. The English bats were anything but easy against it.' 3 4 Skipper Aubrey Smith was bowled first ball by Finlason in the tourists' dismal second innings total of 81. Not unexpectedly, the English received another pasting in their press. Four defeats in six matches was a calamitous record. The Sunday Times grumbled: 'The English cricketers at the Cape are not doing much to "astonish the natives" ... W. G. Grace says it is the heat of the sun and the accidents that are accountable for the poor displays ... The sun must have been very hot .. ,' 35 Smith projected the required stiff upper lip in proclaiming: 'We are able to accept defeat because we are Englishmen and every Englishman knows how to accept defeat.' 36 Finlason did not believe him

Cricket Contests 1

Calamities

and Conflict

Finlason did not view matches played against Warton's team as being simply a learning experience for South African cricketers. He was of the opinion that it was vital to gain as many victories as possible against the tourists in order to prove that the game in South Africa had reached a standard at least comparable with that in Australia. The success of Australian cricket had helped forge a national iden tity in that country that was envied by other colonies suffering from an inferiority complex. The aim of the Australian cricketer'is achievement,' wrote Jim Kilburn, 'the Grade pennant, the State trophy, the Ashes' , 2 9 Richard Holt added:'Affection for the "Old Country" was tinged with a sharply democratic "Jack's as good as his master" attitude'. 30 Finlason believed South African sides could win matches against the English and wrote with undisguised glee when he was proved correct. At Cape Town, the tourists went down by 17 runs to the Western Province XXII but held their nerve to defeat a Cape Colony XV by 11 runs. Aubrey Smith had in the previous year led an English side in Australia and he realised the importance attached to touring teams being able to keep colonial opposition in its place. He wrote diplomatically in the Sportsman: 'Our defeat was due in some measure to these casualties [he listed the injuries] seconded by a continued series of banquets, etc. but most of all to unexpected prowess in bowling on the part of the colonials.' Not satisfied with the concession made, Finlason amused readers by asking the question: 'What does "etc" stand for?' 3 1 A second loss for the tourists - by 55 runs - was suffer ed at the hands of a Port Elizabeth XXII, prompting the Empire to be blunt in its condemnation: 'Never