No one can pretend that the Australian tour is leaving
a much better flavour behind it than the English tour in Australia eighteen months ago. The Voce mystery—as I write it is an unexplained mystery still—is only one of a series of unfortunate incidents. The Trent Bridge barracking can perhaps be understood, but it is com- pletely inexcusable. We have little right to talk about Adelaide if English crowds decide to follow Adelaide's example. A good deal could be said—on both sides— about Jardine's and Larwood's absence, but the result of it all is, quite frankly, a growing impression that the Australians are being allowed to decide who shall play against them. That, of course, is not true, but it is a pity that a situation should ever have arisen in which it could even look like being true. Both the Selection Committee and the M.C.C. seem a little over-anxious to be complaisant. When Test cricket becomes the subject of recrimination and wire-pulling it is time to give it a rest. Whatever happens at the Oval in the next few days it will be very much better for the next tour to Australia to be left undiscussed for a year or two.
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