Empire Cricket Booklet

•

THEROLEOFTHEPRESS

in the aftermath of the infamous Kimberley banquet. The lukewarm reception that the English cricketers received on their return trip was in marked contrast to the unrestrained excitement of the earlier visit. The repercussions of the banquet were numerous, and Cadwallader distanced himself from the blind support he had previously given to the touring side. A first step was to favour the local committee's refusal to accede to Warton's request to paint the matting green. The painting had been carried out in other centres where it had supposedly cut down on the glare that the English declared was affecting their play. Kimberley's attitude annoyed the English manager but, asked Cadwallader, '[w]ould the

of Theunissen's 'considerable pace, and great knee shaking, rib-roasting, finger-mangling bump' made the English favourites for the Test. 51 The fast bowler might well have made a difference in a low-scoring match during which a last-wicket stand of 45 gave England the advantage after they had been 103 for 9 in their first innings. Finlason played, but early on put his right-hand thumb out of joint when collecting a throw from the boundary. He returned to the pavilion to report on the game and criticise Dunell's tactics as England gradually gained the upper hand. Nothing would prevent Finlason - with his dislo cated thumb heavily strapped - from taking part

The first South African team at Port Elizabeth in 1888/89 Left to right, standing: A. Rose-Innes, A. B. Tancred, C.E. Finlason, C.H. Vintcent, F. W. Smith Seated: C. Deare (umpire) P. Hutchinson, 0. R. Dunell (captain), W.H. Milton In front: A. E. Ochse, R. B. Stewart, G. A. Kempis

in the next fixture, a return visit by the tourists to Kimberley. The English captain, however, chose not to accompany his team to the diamond fields and was then unable to reach Cape Town in time for the Second Test. He was supposedly suffering from 'a fever that mystified doctors' and wished to remain behind in Port Elizabeth. 52 It is also likely that he was keen to avoid the tension that existed

English county clubs agree to lay down matting at the request of a colonial team when they go to England?' 53 Although there was a distinctly uneasy relationship between the Kimberley committee and the touring manager, a less-pressured atmosphere prevailed in the English camp as a result of Bowden assuming the captaincy. The two largest totals achieved on