Background Jack Crawford (cricketer)

lord alverstone, president of surrey county cricket club 1895 1915, key figure in dispute crawford.

during 1908 season, crawford narrowly failed complete third double. scored 1,371 runs @ average of 37.05 , took 98 wickets @ 21.48. season began probable dispute on surrey captaincy. h. d. g. leveson gower had been appointed captain 1908 combination of injury , marriage left him unavailable 4 matches near beginning of season. crawford missed beginning of season; newspaper article albert trott, former australian test all-rounder playing middlesex, suggested crawford withdrew team because not appointed captain in leveson gower s absence. instead harry bush, had not played first-class cricket 5 years, led team. trott sympathetic crawford, stating surrey committee went out of way inflict undeserved slight on crawford.

in remainder of season, crawford scored 232 against somerset, highest first-class score, centuries against derbyshire , hampshire. increased strength , variety of surrey s bowling attack restricted opportunities; used less strike bowler , bowled fewer overs in previous season. contemporary reports suggested performances tailed off season progressed, possibly through tiredness having played cricket, , became less accurate bowler through trying hard spin ball. surrey captaincy remained unsettled; crawford led team on several occasions, including surrey s final game of season, when brother vivian captained leicestershire, opponents.

crawford, played amateur not independently wealthy, received increased expenses allowance during 1908, other financial dealings committee less successful: paid laundry bills in 1905, refused afterwards; additionally, refused request in 1907 have part of expenses paid matches missed, happened wages of professionals. financial problems compounded inability find suitable job, , surrey committee threatened ought not played on same terms unless [commenced] earn livelihood .

crawford s performances in 1909 season less effective in previous years. began well, later hampered injury prevented him bowling. batting average fell. surrey experienced disciplinary problems several of professional players during season. club president, lord alverstone, favoured amateurs, arguing losing amateur team preferable professional side won; several professionals left out in favour of amateurs. apart adversely affecting players careers, preference had destabilised team on several seasons. crawford disagreed alverstone, nevertheless assumed leadership in absence of regular captain leveson gower of season. captained surrey win on touring australian team in 1909 after strong performance professional bowler tom rushby. however, captaincy criticised in press, particularly on management of bowling. around time, crawford s form declined. bat, dismissed attempting aggressive shots, , lost effectiveness bowler. result, not chosen gentlemen , missed selection in ashes series. press continued criticise captaincy, despite surrey s results under leadership. burns notes: young man no experience of prolonged failure on cricket field, traumatic time.

surrey had other problems @ time. when team arrived in chesterfield play derbyshire, 8 of professionals arrested following incident in street; matter cleared , press suggested police had been over-eager. county subsequently defeated derbyshire innings in july; rushby , fellow professionals walter lees , w. c. smith successful ball. shortly after this, rushby , lees involved in incident of kind—the exact details unknown. leveson gower suspended them, making them unavailable surrey s second match against australians. crawford asked lead team game, rushby , lees omitted, bowler missing , himself unable bowl owing shoulder injury, considered attack weak. consequently, refused captaincy, , apologised australians selection of thought substandard side. in crawford s absence, surrey led professional tom hayward; match, affected rain, drawn.

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