Empire Cricket Booklet

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'OLD CADDY' AND 'KROM' HENDRICKS

by Milton', it promised 'to alter the framework by which whites governed Africans'; reducing the size of lands owned by blacks and providing a 'gentle stimulus' through which labour would be gathered for the mines. 'This is a Native Bill for Africa,' said Rhodes. It slid dramatically through the House of Assembly 'to extend the Cape's net of ever-tightening segregation'. 20 Segregation was also designed to include the 'coloured' communities of the Cape. Of particular relevance to the debate taking place on Hendricks was the concern on another front that a Muslim teacher, Ahmed Effendi, would benefit from a constitutional peculiarity and be elected a member of the House of Assembly. Rhodes led a move to amend the system whereby Malays in Cape Town could vote cumulatively. The system, known as 'plumping', gave Malays four votes, which could be used for any four candidates, or could be used to support one candidate. It presented an untenable situation to those in power and James Molteno reminded the House of Assembly: 'The Malays and people of that class were ... invading the town, and occupying the streets not occupied by them in times gone by ...' 21 Rhodes was successful in his bid to facilitate an amendment, although it is unlikely that it would have made a difference as Effendi was well beaten in the election . 22 Nevertheless, a point had been made and Rhodes was not likely to weaken his stance over Hendricks. 'In this climate,' wrote Parry, 'the idea of a black player representing South Africa was politically dangerous and, for a large proportion of the white population, emotionally intolerable.' 23 Rhodes's decision to reject Hendricks was discreetly communicated to the WPCU in order to prevent the prime minister from being implicated in any further discussions on the subject. His involvement in the affair was not made public knowledge until Pelham Warner, a former England cricket captain, wrote about it some 50 years later. Despite Milton's efforts, interest in Hendricks would not go away. Disparaging comments were made by A. B. Tancred in the Standard and Diggers News to the effect that it would be 'impolitic, not to

say intolerable' to take Hendricks as an equal.The remarks upset the cricketer who sought help from Cadwallader in his capacity as honorary secretary of the SACA. In what was becoming a most sensitive issue, Cadwallader advised Hendricks to back down for the sake of gaining acceptance. It was a questionable approach, but Cadwallader appeared to be concerned with the bigger picture and the importance of taking Hendricks. A letter referring to the cricketer's change of mind was forwarded to the Standard and Diggers News. Parry points to the capitulation over the 'baggage man and servant' issue as having a deeper signi ficance than simply securing a place in a cricket side. Hendricks was making 'an attempt to come to grips with the changing realities of the situation'. The unfolding tragedy for the cricketer 'was a microcosm of the tragedy of thousands of black South Africans at the time. They believed the ideology; that their behaviour and attainments would allow them to pass across class lines. Cricket and Christianity were the passports to a better life on the other side of the divide.' 24 Shortly before the selection committee met, Cad wallader sent out a carefully-considered but now desperate letter through the Cape Times: I learn from Hendricks who seems to be an unassuming man, and bears an excellent character for a number of years from his employers, that he would be pleased to go to England if required, on certain low terms for services rendered, and would not for a moment expect to be 'classed' with the rest of the team. Hearne and Mills speak of Hendricks as quite the best fast bowler in the country and Mr George Lohmann (he is an amateur with us here) says (this has reached England first from Lohmann himself): 'By all means take him Home' (for various reasons). Strong advices have come from other parts of the country in favour of this man's inclusion, but that question is, of course, a South African one for the consideration of the Final Selection Committee, and approval of guarantors ... 25

By drawing on the respected opinions of the two English professionals in Cape Town, Frank Hearne