The Empire Strikes Back
nother Test match series it spelt out an enlightened prophecy of between England and the what was to come. West Indians gets under way - and again, no doubt, But patronising paternalism had a long Amore than a few Englishmen will be course to run yet. Oh dear me, it did. complaining before the summer is out Three years after that first tour by that the West Indians do not have a Hawke's men, Pelham Warner's older proper appreciation of the grand old brother, RSA Aucher Warner, brought game. In as much as they hit too hard the first 'unofficial' (as Lord's called it) with the bat, and bowl too fast with the collective and multiracial team across ball. to England. It was made up of players Although the regular challenge between from Trinidad, Barbados, and British the two sides has only been deemed Guiana. On the day they disembarked at 'official' by the mandarins of the Eng¬ Southampton from the banana boat, the lish game at Lord's for just over 60 London Evening Star carried a large years, we are in fact fast approaching a cartoon featuring Dr WG Grace, the The centenary of cricket contests between English cricket champion, in a tower¬ the Caribbean teams and the 'Mother ing, regal pose, bat in hand instead of Country' of the old British Empire. scimitar, while around him cowered The first English touring side was led and simpered seven or eight black men, Empire by the redoubtable autocrat, Lord 'I all shedding tears and imploring the shave twice a day, my professionals doctor, 'sorry, sah, we have only come only once: a sign we each know our to learn, sah'.
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