Is Apartheid Cricket ?
Sta.—Dr. Beyer, the apologist for Apartheid at Africa House, in the welcome he gave last week to the South African cricketers, observed that they came in " the tradition of playing the game." Is that altogether true ? I wonder whether the South African team will ever reflect that they have arrived here in immediate succession to the West Indians. Last summer a team consisting mainly of coloured and black men were play- ing on our county grounds and at Lord's and going- into luncheon and tea with the best white cricketers we could find. The M.C.C., high and sovereign Parliament of Cricket, has made the game an inter-racial rivalry and comradeship in skill. If another Ranjitsinhji or Constantine should arise in South Africa, would he be allowed to play on the grounds from which this South African side come. Our English tradition of playing the game—and after all cricket is England's lame—is that we shall be ready to play it with any men, of whatever race or colour, who can play it well enough—and especially if they can beat us in a series of test matches, as did the Weit Indians.
These South Africans look a fine lot of fellows. Good luck to them (short of winning the tests!). It will do them no harm, and they will do much good to South Africa, if they can take back to South Africa that bit of the tradition which is missing there.—Yours faithfully,
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