Yorkshire captaincy affair of 1927
The Yorkshire captaincy affair of 1927 arose from a disagreement among members of Yorkshire County Cricket Club over the selection of a new captain to succeed the retired Major Arthur Lupton. The main issue was whether a professional cricketer should be appointed to the post. It was a tradition throughout English county cricket that captains should always be amateurs. At Yorkshire, a succession of amateur captains held office in the 1920s, on the grounds of their supposed leadership qualities, although they were not worth their place in the team as cricketers. None lasted long; after Lupton's departure some members felt it was time to appoint a more accomplished cricketer on a long-term basis.
The Yorkshire committee, prompted by the influential county president, Lord Hawke, approached Herbert Sutcliffe, one of the side's leading professionals. After Sutcliffe's provisional acceptance of the captaincy, controversy arose. Some members objected to the appointment on the traditional grounds that Sutcliffe was not an amateur; others felt that if a professional was to be appointed, the post should be offered to the county's senior professional, Wilfred Rhodes, who had been playing much longer than Sutcliffe. Rhodes himself was offended that he had not been approached. When Sutcliffe became aware of the controversy, he withdrew his acceptance. No offer was made to Rhodes, and the county subsequently appointed amateur William Worsley as captain. He was respected by the team but had little personal success, lasted for just two seasons, and was followed by two further short-term leaders. In 1933 Brian Sellers, a more competent amateur, was appointed and became the long-serving captain that Yorkshire had sought.
Background
In the 1920s, every English county cricket team had an amateur captain.[1] Yorkshire had been led by amateurs since Lord Hawke took over the position in 1883.[note 1] Amateurs were usually from privileged backgrounds, while professionals were mainly from the working classes. Class distinctions pervaded the game, which was organised and administered by former and current amateurs. They wished to preserve leadership roles for members of the Establishment, in defiance of broader social changes that had reduced their influence in other sports.[2][3][4] Administrators argued that amateurs were better captains as they were free from worries over employment. The Wisden editor believed that "the professional may have difficulty in enforcing discipline. He would naturally hesitate to suggest to his committee that this player or that should be dropped, and so be instrumental in depriving the man in question of some part of his livelihood. Further, feeling that an error of judgment would prejudice his standing with the committee, he might well hesitate to take risks."[5] In 1925, Lord Hawke, then the Yorkshire president, expressing his hope that an amateur would always be available to captain the national side, had made the impromptu comment, "Pray God, no professional shall ever captain England."[6] His remarks were widely reported in the press and heavily criticised. This was to leave Hawke in an awkward situation in 1927.[7]
By the end of the 1927 English cricket season, Yorkshire had had a succession of short-term captains. Generally, these men were neither sufficiently good players nor leaders to merit a position in the team, but Yorkshire's side was strong enough to include them in the interest of maintaining amateur leadership. Tactically, Yorkshire's success came not from the captain but from the influence of leading professionals Wilfred Rhodes and Emmott Robinson.[8][9] The captain's primary role was the enforcement of discipline: maintaining an amicable attitude within the team during games and ensuring that umpires and opponents were respected. In the early 1920s, Yorkshire had been undisciplined on the field; cricket correspondent Jim Kilburn wrote that they were in danger of becoming "social outcasts",[10] and E. W. Swanton commented that Yorkshire's hostile attitude when fielding looked likely to jeopardise their relations with other teams.[10] Matters came to a head in a match against Middlesex in 1924 at Sheffield. The crowd became very antagonistic and a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) enquiry found that a Yorkshire player had incited the unrest. Further incidents against Surrey that season led the captain Geoffrey Wilson to resign, though he led the team to the County Championship in each of his three years in charge. His resignation was possibly prompted by the Yorkshire president, Lord Hawke, but Wilson did not like the belligerent nature of the team and found it difficult to handle Rhodes.[10]
Yorkshire appointed Major Arthur Lupton as captain, hoping that his experience in the army would allow him to exercise greater control than his predecessors had managed. Aged 46, he was old for a cricketer. He had played once for Yorkshire in 1908, but was no longer an effective batsman. He was very popular with the players, and managed to improve discipline but had little influence on team tactics.[10][11] He left such matters to Rhodes and Robinson, to the point where several apocryphal stories emerged about his lack of control. In one story, Yorkshire had scored around 400. Lupton, hoping to score some easy runs, came out of the amateur dressing room with his bat when a young professional touched his arm and said, "It's all right, sir. Mr Rhodes has declared [the innings over]."[12][13] After three years in charge, Lupton resigned the captaincy at the end of 1927.[11] In their search for a successor, Yorkshire hoped to appoint a player with a better cricketing reputation who would serve for a longer term.[9]
Appointment of Sutcliffe
Initial approach
At the beginning of the 1927 season, Yorkshire secretary
Hawke asked Sir Home Gordon, a cricket writer who had assisted Hawke with his autobiography, to sound out other counties to see if they would find Sutcliffe an acceptable captain if he played as an amateur—some players switched from amateur to professional, or vice versa, around this time.[7] Sutcliffe was en route to South Africa with the MCC touring team, but was aware that Yorkshire were considering him as a replacement for Lupton.[16]
Sutcliffe's election was confirmed at a meeting of the club's governing committee on 2 November 1927, which voted on two proposals sponsored by Hawke.
Reaction
Reports at the time said that Lord Hawke and Toone had denied all knowledge of the approach to Sutcliffe;
Withdrawal of offer
Following the members' poll, Yorkshire sent a telegram to Sutcliffe in South Africa, asking him to withdraw his acceptance of the captaincy. Sutcliffe replied that he had now considered the offer and was appreciative but had to decline it. When news reached the Yorkshire committee on 18 December, they appointed William Worsley, who had refused the leadership in 1924 due to farming commitments.[21][25] In the words of Wisden, "Happily the trouble was eventually settled to the satisfaction of all concerned. Sutcliffe declined the honour and, an invitation being extended to Captain Worsley, that gentleman stepped into the breach."[5] Lord Hawke sent a message which thanked Sutcliffe for "your loyalty to the club".[21] The Yorkshire Post also paid tribute to Sutcliffe and the way he handled himself, noting that while a conflict of opinion had been inevitable, it was "carried to unreasonable lengths".[21] Commenting on the affair, The Times expressed regret that Sutcliffe had felt obliged to turn down the leadership; it noted that amateur captains were preferable in reminding people that cricket was only a game, but that there was nothing in principle to prevent a professional from performing the role. Of Sutcliffe, it said, "One would have liked to see him lead the side, and his general popularity, combined with his skill as a batsman, makes it probable that he would have been a success. However, half the value of a captain is gone if, before he takes up his duties, people begin to question whether he is the right man for the position, and Sutcliffe has been well-advised to recognise this fact."[25] The newspaper also pointed out that it might have been difficult to choose a skipper from a group of professionals who considered themselves eligible for the role; it added that Rhodes might have found it hard to captain the side as bowlers had historically struggled to be good leaders.[25]
Aftermath
Worsley captained for just two seasons. He struggled with the demands of fielding, while his batting was disappointing. However, he was widely respected by the team. He was slightly more effective in his second season as leader, after which he retired.[26] The next skipper, Alan Barber, although regarded as successful, captained for just one season. He was a more accomplished batsman and a great disciplinarian.[27] However, he chose a career in teaching, limiting his availability, and resigned.[28] The captain after that, Frank Greenwood, also did not hold the post long, resigning due to business commitments.[29] Lord Hawke, writing in 1932, noted there had been eight captains since he retired in 1910. While six of them won the County Championship in their first season in charge, he stated that "it is not good for a side to be always changing its captain".[30][31] Only when Brian Sellers was appointed in 1933 did Yorkshire gain the leader they wanted. After skippering most games in 1932 during Greenwood's frequent absences, he remained in the role until 1947 and was considered the best county captain of his time.[32]
When
See also
Notes
- ISBN 978-1-905080-75-5.
- ^ The senior professional of a county side was the professional cricketer who had played for the team the longest. This player often influenced the playing style and tactics of the side.
References
- ^ a b Swanton and Woodcock, p. 397.
- ^ Birley, pp. 105–6.
- ^ Ryder, pp. 175, 179.
- ^ Williams, p. 187.
- ^ a b c Caine, Stewart (1928). "Notes by the Editor". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ Gibson, p. 154.
- ^ a b c d e Gibson, p. 155.
- ^ Rogerson, p. 150.
- ^ a b c Hill, p. 104.
- ^ a b c d Hill, pp. 106–7.
- ^ a b Woodhouse, p. 333.
- ^ Ryder, p. 181.
- ^ Hill, pp. 107–8.
- ^ Rogerson, pp. 149–50.
- ^ Birley, pp. 226–27.
- ^ a b Hill, pp. 105–6.
- ^ Gibson, pp. 155–56.
- ^ "Sutcliffe to Captain Yorkshire". The Times. London. 3 November 1927. p. 7.
- ^ a b c d Hill, p. 110.
- ^ Hill, p. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f Hill, pp. 113–14.
- ^ Rogerson, p. 151.
- ^ a b Woodhouse, p. 351.
- ^ a b Hill, pp. 111–12.
- ^ a b c "County Captains. Qualifications for leadership". The Times. London. 19 December 1927. p. 4.
- ^ Woodhouse, p. 359.
- ^ Hill, pp. 108–9.
- ^ "Obituaries in 1985 (Alan Barber)". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1986. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
- ^ "Obituaries in 1963 (Frank Greenwood)". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1964. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
- ^ Bapty, John (1969). "Yorkshire the top county". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ Lord Hawke (1931). "Fifty years of Yorkshire county". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ Frith, David. "Brian Sellers". EspnCricinfo. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ "Vic Wilson". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ Gibson, pp. 154, 156.
- ^ Hill, p. 109.
- ^ Bowes, Bill (1949). Express Deliveries. London: Stanley Paul. p. 152.
Bibliography
- Birley, Derek (1999). A Social History of English Cricket. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-941-3.
- Gibson, Alan (1979). The Cricket Captains of England. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-29779-8.
- Hill, Alan (2007). Herbert Sutcliffe. Cricket Maestro. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Stadia. ISBN 978-0-7524-4350-8.
- Rogerson, Sidney (1960). Wilfred Rhodes. London: Hollis and Carter.
- Ryder, Rowland (1995). Cricket Calling. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-17476-0.
- Swanton, E. W.; Woodcock, John, eds. (1980). Barclay's World of Cricket (2nd ed.). London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-216349-7.
- Williams, Jack (1989). Cricket and England: A Cultural and Social History of Cricket in England between the Wars. London: Frank Cass. ISBN 0-7146-4861-2.
- Woodhouse, Anthony (1989). The History of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7470-3408-7.