BRADMAN TO EXPLAIN BUT MAY LAUGH IT OFF

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 11

BRADMAN TO EXPLAIN BUT MAY LAUGH IT OFF

MANAGER IS SERIOUS BREACH OF AGREEMENT United P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 12.50 p.m. LONDON, Wed. The Australian Press Association reports that Don Bradman laughed ■when told of the rumour circulating that he would be “carpeted” on his return to Australia. “Nobody can be put on the mat until he gets home,” he said, “and he can only be put there if Mr. Kelly so recommends. I have heard nothing about' it.” Mr. Kelly informed the Australian Press Association that he could not well pass over Bradman’s apparent defiance of the Australian Board of Control.

His team mates say nothing, but it is believed they naturally feel that Bradman’s great success has enabled him to act in a manner which others dare not adopt. Bradman is a keen business man and has been careful so far not to write about recent matches, so possibly a less serious view will be taken. However, it will be difficult to reconcile Bradman’s cinema appearances and his jounalistic activities with the formidable contract the players signed. It is antitipated the 1934 team will be bound by an even more severe undertaking. The contract each member of the Australian team signed before leaving Australia governs practically every phase of the professional and private lives of the players from the moment they loft their homes to the moment they disembark on their return to Australia. Clause 11 reads: “Neither the manager, treasurer, nor any player shall accept employment as a newspaper correspondent or do any work for, or in connection with, any newspaper or

any broadcasting; and no member of the team other than the manager shall directly or indirectly in any capacity whatsoever communicate with the Press nor give any information concerning matters connected with the tour to the Press or any member, servant. or agent thereof.” Clause six provides that for any breach of the covenant the executive committee may determine the agreement, “whereupon he shall, at once, forfeit all claims to the fixed sum mentioned in the agreement, or to any

other sum mentioned, which shall not have been paid to such player at the date of determination of the agreement.”