by Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (July 8^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

Double Standards

The Aboriginal cricketer, Jack Marsh, was rated by some to be as good a bowler as Australian great Fred Spofforth and English counterpart Sydney Barnes – both of whom were stalwarts of their national sides. Marsh should have been too, but his action was wrongly deemed suspect, yet detractors ignore the drastic measures he took to clear himself when first accused – the splint that made throwing impossible.

While umpire, Bob Crockett made his name at Marsh’s expense – no-balling him seventeen times in one innings, fellow umpire Sammy Jones saw nothing wrong with Marsh’s action. Meanwhile, Sir Pelham (Plum) Warner insisted that Marsh was a chucker, even though there was no complaint from his team and he was not no-balled by the umpires. Warner claimed that no English umpire would have tolerated such an action, yet the MCC dictate was clear. If Marsh was throwing, he should have been called for it and it was the same action that the splint proved legal. Despite his belief that Marsh’s bowling action was suspect at best, Warner still rated Marsh the best bowler he faced on that tour.

It made no difference. Despite calls for his selection, Marsh never played for Australia, even though future Australian captain, Warren Bardsley, was clear in his assessment that Marsh would have played for Australia if it hadn’t been for his colour. Cricket writer and historian Jack Pollard goes further, describing Marsh as ‘clearly the best Australian bowler of his time.’ 

Had it not been for the application of the utterly racist White Australia Policy – an insult that disgraces any civilised society – Marsh would surely have played for Australia.

Thrown Out

Jack Marsh’s cricket career was far too short. Despite dominating grade cricket between 1901 and 1904, the Aboriginal fast bowler only played six first class matches for New South Wales, which kept him out of contention for international recognition. Marsh was even prevented from playing in a match against England by the opponent’s captain Archibald MacLaren.

Future Australia captain and New South Wales selector Monty Noble took advantage of the controversial umpire Bob Crockett’s persistent no-balling of Marsh to refuse to select him.

After Cricket

Marsh played exhibition cricket to make ends meet after playing his last competitive match in Sydney in 1905. He earned a living taking bets that he could not hit their stumps. The entrepreneur, John Wren, organised a handicap race between Marsh – then in his thirties – and rising star Arthur Postle[2] in Melbourne in 1906 with big prize money.

It was billed as a world record attempt by Postle, having given Marsh a three-yard start. The race did not go according to plan. Marsh held his own. Postle failed to make an impression on Marsh’s lead for sixty yards and the finish was tight. The race was awarded to Postle, but some observers insisted that it was a dead heat.

12000 spectators witnessed the end of Marsh’s top flight sports career. The world record was safe and Marsh’s sporting career was over.

The downward spiral was swift and brutal.

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

[2] Postle went on to demonstrate that he was one of the greatest athletes that Australia ever produced.