Monday 24 May 2010

Twas ever thus

Simon Rae on the Australians' tour of England in 1892:

'The tour turned into an utter shambles, with players of different state sides forming factions and continuing virulent domestic rivalries. Once, when the team had travelled by train to Brighton, the porters found their carriage spattered with blood. Private quarrels erupted into public rows, drunkenness was rampant and a thoroughly unpleasant trip was rounded off with threats of violence accompanying allegations that profits were being unequally shared out'.

They probably put undue pressure on the captain to win the toss too...

2 comments:

Rob said...

Are you writing about coalition governments now :)

Anonymous said...

1982? Huh?