by Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (June 20^th 2010)[1]

Editor’s Note

The issue of racism in sport remains pertinent. We have covered this and other issues for several years. The story of Aboriginal cricket is important and still relevant especially with the 74^th Ashes series looming.

The Editor

Chucking it Out

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) – then running the game – decided that chucking (throwing) had to be controlled. It was a problem in England too. Only umpires at the bowling end could call no-balls for throwing. Captains saw a way to flout it – just switch the bowler to the other end, so the MCC introduced a rule change that allowed the square-leg umpire to call a bowler for throwing as well.

The rule change was effective in England, which also had a problem, but Australians had a way round it. It had not been implemented there yet. The campaign needed a high-profile victim, but one who was also a soft target. The phenomenal Jack Marsh fitted the bill in every respect. An Aboriginal with a supple wrist action as well, he was ideal to make an example of, even though he had already proved his innocence when the umpire William Curran wrongly called him for throwing.

Impact

In his first and only season in Sheffield Shield cricket Marsh took 21 wickets in just three matches at an average of 17.38. His début was against South Australia. The great Clem Hill made 365 not out – a record individual score at the Adelaide Oval in a match that Marsh was the most successful bowler, taking 5 for 181. Curran’s opinion had been over-ruled, but another umpire was determined to end Marsh’s career.

His second match was against Victoria in Melbourne. The umpire from New South Wales Richard Calloway was satisfied that Marsh’s action was legitimate and did not call him. The Victorian umpire, Bob Crockett did thrice, but refused to explain why he had done so. Marsh took three wickets in each innings including one of Australia’s greatest ever captains Warwick Armstrong.

The return fixture against South Australia was took place in Sydney in January 1901. Marsh had an exceptional game, bagging 5 for 34 as the visitors were dismissed for 157. He spearheaded the attack in the second innings too, taking 5 for 59 as South Australia collapsed to 156 all out. New South Wales showed how to bat on the wicket, scoring 918 to win by the largest ever amount in the history of first-class cricket, an innings and 605 runs. The umpires had no problem with Marsh’s bowling action.

What a Crock

The fourth match was against Victoria in Sydney. One of the officials was the Victorian with an axe to grind, Bob Crockett. In Marsh’s first over Crocket no-balled him thrice for throwing. In the second he did it twice more. There was no doubt that the crowd sympathised with Marsh, believing that Crockett was biased against him.

Marsh eventually lost his temper and deliberately threw three deliveries. Crockett continued to no-ball Marsh. The crowd were outraged, shouting ‘Crock!’ at the umpire. They believed that he was cheating on behalf of his state. Amazingly, New South Wales’ captain, Syd Gregory, refused to change Marsh’s end to give the other umpire the opportunity to judge Marsh’s action.

That happened in the second innings. Marsh’s confidence was affected. He took 1 for 105, but Sammy Jones[2] never called him for throwing. In four matches that Marsh had played in first class cricket only Crockett had a problem and there were strong suspicions that Crockett had his own agenda.

Cynical

Astonishingly, some cited William Curran’s ludicrous calling of Marsh as justification for Crockett’s behaviour, claiming that Curran came from New South Wales. So what? Curran had been proved wrong. Crockett was an up and coming umpire wanting to make a name for himself as a tough uncompromising official that would enforce the 1899 directive of the MCC on throwing.

A target was needed by Crockett to establish his credentials – a soft one. It would not be from his home state of Victoria, so that left a New South Walian and Test players like Monty Noble were immune as that could affect Australian chances. Ironically, it did that anyway. Crockett needed an easy victim and nobody fitted the bill better than Marsh – an Aboriginal who had already been called.

Furthermore, England captain Archibald MacLaren insisted that the new law had to be implemented by Australia if they expected England to tour the following year, as the English were clamping down at home. Crockett, an employee of the Australian sponsors of England’s tours, needed them to come. What did it matter if one bowler – an Aboriginal at that – was sacrificed at the altar of political expediency and to advance Crockett’s career?

---

[1] This article was first published in the Magazine in 2009. We publish it again as the issues that it raises remain pertinent.

[2] Jones was a former Australian international and himself the victim of appallingly poor sportsmanship previously. He was once run out by Dr WG Grace when, understandably believing the ball was dead, he left his crease to pat down the wicket. Jones was furious. Perhaps that explains his spirit of fair play.