54 MATTERS ARISING Indian Summers

It was not until 1956-57 that Australia Australian 's relationship with the made its first official tour of India and Pakistan, and by the 80s three-Test Indian sub-continent has been marred by series on the sub-continent were a prejudice and mistrust. Rodney Cavalier regular feature of the overseas calen­ spoke to the author of a new book on the subject. dar. Between 1935 and the 1980s the knowledge of Australian cricketers on the sub-continent was limited to im­ fter nearly eight Even fora sport that deifies a scholarly pressions gathered by short strolls in hours at the crease, interest in its arcana, the project was port cities and to perspectives formed ' physiol­ pushing specialisation to new fron­ in cricket fields, hotels and airports A tiers. Allen & Unwin, publishers, and the journeys between. The crick­ ogy was falling apart. blessed with a certifiable cricket eters had firm preconceptions of local The humidity in the Chepauk fanatic as its managing director, was conditions before ever setting foot on Stadium at Madras was drain­ offering every encouragement. The the sub-continent, etched by dressing ing the energy. The sun was Sydney Morning Herald granted a room lore, horror stories of wasting blazing. The stands blocked year's leave of absence. In June 1989 diseases that struck down players in whatever relief there might Coward took up residence in a fishing their prime. Partly in reaction, well have been from a stray breeze village 20 kilometres south of Madras, into the 1980s, the Australian armed with a Brother EP22 typewriter authorities sent a doctor with the off the Bay of Bengal. An open and several reams of thermal paper. team. Now a lone physiotherapist ac­ sewer ran right past the ground. He might have written his book based companies the team, and team photos Jones had accumulated a cen­ on his extensive notes of past tours confirm that players are now more tury by then, carried on past 150, and interviews with the Australian adventurous in their wanderings, and now he was begging to get players in each era. That was not the point. Coward's book. Cricket Beyond the back to the pavilion. Bazaar (Allen & Unwin, $24.95) is a Throughout the innings, Mike "I wanted to do as much as 1 could in comprehensive history of the 12 tours Coward, one of the tiny Australian the environment," he explained back by Australian teams to Pakistan and pres s corps, had trai ned his binocula rs in his inner-Sydney study, "It was a India, plus the one Test against Sri on Jones from the shaded but steamy big house, bigger than 1 needed. 1 Lanka in 1982-83. Although he pressbox. He was witnessing the would try to discipline myself to start provides great detail of the matches, prelude to the astonishing finish to early because of the heat in the south Coward's real fascination is with the this First Test against India in 1986-87. of India. If 1 was having a run 1 would society that produced the cricketers It was just another day too, a day spent keep going; 8 to 10 hours would not and cricket supporters. watching cricket, writing and filing bother me. Some days I could be "There has been a shift in the sphere against deadlines made impossible pacing up and down and getting very of influence in the world of cricket," for the Australian newsmen by the angry, talking to the geckos on the Coward says. "'s influence is difference in time zones. wall or doing any damn thing. Of a diminishing on and off the ground, night, if I had a good productive time, year in, year out. Suddenly, the greater Coward had been reporting cricket 1 went down to the beach and played Asian cricket basin has emerged. 1 full-time during the 80s in a career that cricket with the kids." thought it an interesting and impor­ began as a copyboy in 1963. Writing tant time for the book to be written. \ cricket was what he had always Coward was particularly keen to There is no doubt that there is an un­ wanted. By the end of the search the files of The Hindu willingness in this country to embrace tour of 1988-89, cricket had become newspaper for details of Australia's the Third World. We are frightened by ! more than he had ever wanted. Mike unofficial 1935-36 tour, of which little it, we are uncertain about it, it seems Coward was burned out professional­ was known in Australia. "I had the an alien culture. The cricketers reflect ly, the summers had become endless help of everyone at The Hindu to go that. There has been a greater emo- ; as he followed the Australian crick­ through the files. I wish you could see fional maturity in recent tours." eters across the hemispheres. Well the library at The Hindu, it is just before the West Indies tour ended, he remarkable. It is a very, very old build­ Coward reflected carefully before had been telling colleagues the season ing: the old manila files piled high. responding to questions about the al­ was going to be his last. They dwarf these six or eight men leged cheating of Pakistan umpires: I who sit around, some still with "There is no doubt they have had 1 He would endure one more Indian eyeshades—it is like taking a leaf from some appalling umpires over the ] summer. He had a book in mind, a the midst of the Raj, filled by warm years. Yet I find cheating very hard to j history of Australian cricket on the and fascinating people going at a believe. You cannot get away from the j Indian sub-continent. tempo we have forgotten about." fact that Indian and Pakistan societies f

ALR: FEBRUARY 1991 MATTERS ARISING 55

are very different. There is corruption cause it was a sensitive time in the at all levels. There is corruption at all history of international cricket. levels of our own society. Whether it extends to cricket, I can't say. I've "This was ignored. It was a delicate made five tours there, I've dealt a lot time because the West Indies wanted with the officials and the umpires, and extreme action for contact with South I've had no reason myself to believe Africa." that there is corruption or graft at the top level of cricket." Coward possesses a fine narrative style: it is a considerable pity that there Why then did such avowed is not regular space in an Australian traditionalists as Australian coach newspaper for him to reflect on the Bob Simpson and manager Colin Egar implications of modem cricket, here react as they did—by accusing the and overseas. He is, as well, a notable umpires of bias? mimic and humourist, though he has restrained this bent here. "I believe that they behaved as they would not have behaved in any other country. I don't know why: Bob This is not a book of pretences; it Simpson has been there before as a makes no claim that cricket is a sub­ captain; he has had great success stitute for diplomacy or war. Interna­ there. To me it was inexplicable. The tional cricket is not going to be the most damning thing is that in 1982 the bridgehead for cultural breakthroughs. One incident says it same umpires stood in the First Test the match and say that they were not all: Coward met a child at Peshawar, and the Australians were so pleased satisfied with them, that they didn't near the Khyber Pass, who recognised with them that they asked for them to want them reappointed? be reappointed. him as a person from "Border's "Malcolm Gray, the Chairman of the country". The child had not heard of "You ask yourself: this time there were Board, had flown to before Australia. exactly the same two officials, exactly the Australians left and appealed to the same secretary of the board, why them to temper their remarks, to be RODNEY CAVALIER is a freelance did they not go to them at the end of thoughtful, diplomatic and caring be­ journalist and cricket acolyte.

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A LR : FEBRUARY 1991 56 MATTERS ARISING Fall of the House of Ten

'Quality7 is, of course, highly subjec­ tive, and this is reflected in the phrase Commercial TV is in the doldrums. 'good TV', usually taken to mean little more than 'action-packed' or 'easily Meanwhile, American TV has been striking consumed' TV. Many ALR readers out in new directions. David Nichols reports. would rarely stray beyond SBS or ABC when they're looking for 'quality7; and the idea of commercial n July 1989, the Ten ment network' concept were rejected TV featuring watchable shows in by the cautious powers-that-beat Ten. prime-time might seem ludicrous to Network's Sydney them. Things are different in the US studios were the It was a grim year for commercial TV where there is no government net­ Qscene of a sumptuous finances all round. While we can work and ratings are the top priority luncheon-cum-press con­ speculate on the downfall of magnates for all stations. In a search for a new ference; print media repre­ like Skase an d Bond, as well as the odd twist to the old routine, programmers Steve Cosser, the fact remains that TV found a new kind of TV: TV made for sentatives were flown in from last year was full of the same old crap. all over Australia for one day at a nation brought up entirely on TV. Hence, It's Garry Shandting's Show, a Ten TV Australia as it would be But the exceptions, surprisingly, have sitcom about a stand-up comedian known from that day onwards. been excellent. The speculation that running a sitcom - that is, a show The occasion was, of course, Ten would become a 'quality' station about a show about a show, or— more new station manager Bob along the lines of Britain's Channel 4 obliquely — Murphy Broum, a comedy (this line of thinking ran concurrently Shanks' announcement of his about a current affairs news team, with Jones' entertainment station) peppered with references to real revamping strategy to give the may have brought wry smiles to some events. network stronger ratings and viewers' faces, but the truth is that Ten greater financial stability. has already tried and failed with some But the great success story of excellent shows. American shows, This reporter left half-way through American TV in 1990 was The like Married With Children and thir­ the proceedings; the questions went tysomething. Simpsons, which Ten hopes to launch on interminably. I don't think 1 missed soon. The Simpsons are Married Wil/i much - and, anyway, it was only a few Both these shows turn American TV Children's Bundys taken one step fur­ months before Shanks' lowbrow (he conventions on their head. Married ther; they're a cartoon family but used a different term which meant With Children attacks not only the they're an adult cartoon family, One much the same thing) reprogramming American sitcom family but the real episode deals with mother Marge'9 was deemed a failure. family with a collection of the crudest affair with her bowling instructor. misfits ever seen on the screen. The Another has the Simpsons accept an At the time of writing, only two of show rated better than any other on its Armenian exchange student who Shanks' changes remain on air. One is home turf last year. Here, Ten spies on the nuclear power plant the inner-city soap £ Street which he publicity couldn't quite grasp it, nor where father Homer Simpson works. 'glamourised'. The other is the could the critics, who seemed to take Another had a children's TV clown Australian Candid Camera. And if Ten it entirely at face value. become thecentreofa mass witchhunt TV Australia was in a spot of trouble when he apparently robs a 7-11 store! pre-Shanks, it is now in decidedly dire Thirtysomething is a different kettle of The Simpsons was created by car­ straits. Even the once top-rating fish but, in its own way, attempted a toonist Matt Groening, best known for Neighbours is now cominga sad fourth new reading of an old story; it's an his Life in Hell strips. behind ABC News. The Lane Cove 'issues' soap in the Big Chill vein. studios where Shanks' pronounce­ Somehow, Ten forfeited its right to Comedy is the main area for bursts of ments were so confidently made are screen thirtysomething after Shanks TV originality because comedy's al­ nowempty and about to be torn down gave it the boot, and the Seven Net­ ready surreal and by nature allows for a shopping complex, or to be work is now reluctantly in charge of easy ridicule of TV tradition. David bought by Channel 9, which wants It. Lynch's Twin Peaks - another program cheaper premises - depending who Ten is hoping to use to recapture lost you believe. These two shows were essential to audiences - was described at its American Network TV. Faced with launch as "Blue Velvet meets Peyton More recently, in its city offices, Ten competition from cable stations and Place". Lynch directed only three of has seen even more upheavals. Direc­ video stores, the networks were the first seven Twin Peaks episodes, but tor of programming Vicki Jones forced to tinker with the unprece­ the show has his particular vision recently got the boot after her many dented: the notions of quality and stamped all over it. It's a murder attempts to implement an 'entertain­ depth. mystery that took America by storm,

ALR ; FEBRUARY 1991 RISING 57

lie eccentric Nadine Hurley (Wendy Robie), one of the stars of Twin Peaks with the question "Who killed Laura days, and the Nine network doesn't thing Skirts had in common with real Palmer?" on everyone's lips. There a re even enter the running. The failure of life was its dullness. One almost got a possible 20 or so suspects, each of Nine's great hope Family and Friends the feeling that its producers got them particularly weird and each in­ leaves The Flying Doctors as its only scared while making it, and quickly volved as well in bizarre sub-plots. regular production. Seven's Home and ransacked some old Cop Shop scripts Leading the show is CIA man Dale Away is doing well despite large cut­ for the correct measures of cliche and Cooper, played with usual aplomb by backs, and A Country Practice, certain­ tired storylines. Whatever the reason, Kyle McLachlan. Right down to its ly the most liberal and informa tive Skirts' cast did a good job with very deliriously infections theme music, soap Australia has ever seen, is still uneven material. Not that the Ttoin Peaks is the must-see event of rating well after nearly a decade. programming helped at all — Skirts 1991. One only hopes Ten can shake (what a name!) was floundering in its itself from the doldrums long enough Seven was less lucky with its police timeslot. to entice the Australian public into drama Skirts: in fact, Skirts typifies watching it. what is wrong with the whole of Meanwhile, Ten's drama offerings Australian commercial TV drama. It have been even less popular than On the homefron t - where each station was neither good realistic TV, nor was usual. The most loyal of Neighbours is required by law to screen a certain it good soap. In fact, for something fans would have to admit tnat the amount of local drama - Ten barely that aimed for the pseudo-reality of show these days is a complete bore. competes in the drama ratings these English TV drama TTic Bill, the closest Recent storylines had Gemma being

A L R : FEBRUARY 1991 58 MATTERS ARISING

sacked from her job in a dress shop But, ultimately, what do people want Australian TV. It's a huge gamble and Ryan teased for wanting to be­ from TV? Obviously the stations don't since Sydney didn't rate at all— it was come a policeman. Still, the South know, and perhaps viewers don't one of the programs targeted by Vicki American con-woman hell-bent on either. Whatever it is, it's certainly not Jones for the chop. marrying Paul to get citizenship was more of the same. Perhaps the first interesting, especially her closing step would be to ask them directly. Drama, too, has budgets far beyond speech after being unmasked; it car­ Both Britain's ITV and BBC have the comprehension of mortals. Judg­ ried reminders of the glory days of the developed intelligent, watchable ing by the excellent films produced by time Helen was abducted and locked shows on which members of the view­ Australian film schools every year on in a shed in the cemetery by an es­ ing public appear live or on pre­ next to no money, the stations must be caped prisoner posing as a priest. filmed segments to criticise programs employing the wrong people. Maybe shown the previous week. Often, they a desire to spend on a par with the US Ten is hoping that its recent car- have the chance to take the program's has overridden any reasonable con­ bomb/ gun-shot wounds/shipwreck director or writer to task; station sideration of what would make good storylines will work for £ Street, for management can get dragged into the (or funny or thrilling) viewing. my money the best Aussie soap in argument, too. This is no ABC Back- many a moon. £ Street has everything, chat, with the snide Tim Bowden The one thing, of course, that no one in classic soap tradition. The love of chuckling over viewers' letters read has ever seriously considered is that the Reverend Bob for Elly as she out in funny voices. This is genuinely many Australians are tired of sitting recovers from gunshot wounds to the accountable television. in front of the 'instrument' for most of head; teenagers Harley and Tony their conscious lives. crave constantly for each other's But it's the high price of everything - bodies (unfortunately this tends to programs, presenters, executives - Well, maybe, but it's been a remarkab­ mean falling off the couch a lot, but we that is causing AustralianTVits major ly loyal 34-year love affair. For most of can use our imaginations!), the headaches at the moment. TV execu­ us bom after the mid-50s, television is religious virgin policeman Max and tive salaries are notoriously inflated. the main source for cultural reference the high-on-life Alice-Well, they're Or take Mike Gibson who, until his my favourites. But, sadly, even E Street recent sacking presented the Sydney and identity. No. We're just waiting has been under constant threat of can­ show on Channel Tea He is reported for something new on the screen. cellation due to low ratings — here's to have defected to Ten from Nine for hoping it finally 'takes off' (rather $5 million. Call me naive, but I can't DAVID NICHOLS is a writer for teen than 'gets taken off') in 91. see that anyone is worth $5 million to magazines. What the readers said

higher than a cross-section of the sub­ scription base as a whole. If the results of our recent readership survey From the sample emerges the portrait (ALR 122) are anything to go by, our readers, of the average ALR reader as aged on the whole, are satisfied with the style and between 21 and 40, unmarried, content of ALR. university-educated and working most often in the public sector. He/she is predominantly he majority said that attention to economic issues (80%) heterosexual and Anglo-Australian. ALR's main strength and did not want to increase "cul­ He/she does not belong to,a political lay in its features tural" content over political (68%). party and has been reading ALR for T They did, however, want to see less than two years. He/she often eats (66%) and that it was greater coverage of environmental in a restaurant, buys a book regularly unnecessary to carry shorter (43%) and Asian-Pacific issues (67%), — most usually on politics or current items (67%), though the number affairs — and sees a film at least once of existing columns was ade­ Rather interestingly, the sample (hap­ a month. quate (60%). pily, 100) did not perceive the need for devoting additional space to women's Most found ALR's writing accessible issues, and did not categorise ALR as Thanks to everyone who responded to (76%) and it wasn't a chore to read the "a boy's magazine". the survey, and congratulations to magazine (74%). Only 28% perceived David Mehan of Chippendale, NSW, ALR's design as too conservative. On These findings are explained in part the winner of the survey draw — $100 the whole, our sample of readers felt by the nature of the sample; 70% of the worth of books from the International that the magazine did not pay undue respondents were male - considerably Bookshop, .

A LR . FEBRUARY 1991