SNOBBERY IN CRICKET

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1948, Page 5

SNOBBERY IN CRICKET

There has been eonsiderable newspaper criticism oi' the distinctions made betAveen amateurs aiul professionals at the Scarborough aiiuual cricket festival when II. D. G. Leverson-GoAver 's eleveu played AI.G.G. Tlie criticism centred chieflv round tlie fact that Avliile tlie eigiit amateurs iu Leverson-Gower 's teaiu Avitli their' Avives were put up at the best liotels iu Kcarliorougli and ate their liioals'in a special pavilion on the ground, tlie three professionals (E. Edricli, Laker aml tlie New Zealander Pritchard) were accoinmodated at small liotels and had to cat their meals bv thenisehes. The wives of tlie professionals even alleged that the wives, of some of the amateurs snubbed thein. Air. Leverson-Gower denied that the distinctions iniplied any suggestiou of snobberv. The professionals, he said, stayed at cheajicr liotels because they were payi'ng their own vvay wlicreas the amateurs were tlie uuests of the Scarborough Cricket Club. The erities pointed out that the Australians who also jdayed at Scarborough did not ask the professionals to eat their luncli in dil'l'erent teuts. Wlien Air. Leverson-Gower. remarked that tlie Scarborough festival' had a great tradition oue cricket writer comiuented acidly: " If these 'distinctions are part of a great traditiou the sooner such snobberv is eradicated the better. "