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Gubby Allen

Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen CBE TD (31 July 1902 – 29 November 1989) was an Australian-born English cricketer and influential administrator who captained England in eleven of his twenty-five Test matches.^[2] An all-rounder, Allen bowled right-arm fast and batted right-handed, taking 81 Test wickets at an average of 29.37 and scoring 750 runs at 24.19, with notable performances including carrying his bat for 206 at Lord's in 1938. Born in Sydney but raised in England from age six, he refused to employ Bodyline tactics during the 1932–33 Ashes series in Australia, prioritizing fair play over aggressive short-pitched bowling.^[3]^[4] After retiring from playing in 1939, Allen shaped English cricket as chairman of the Test selectors, President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1963 to 1964, and Treasurer from 1964 to 1976, exerting significant behind-the-scenes control.^[2]^[5]

Early Life and Education

Family and Upbringing

George Oswald Browning Allen was born on 31 July 1902 in Bellevue Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to Sir Walter MacArthur Allen KBE, a lawyer from a family long established in the Australian legal profession.^[6]^[7] His uncle, Reginald Allen, was an Australian cricketer and member of the same legal lineage tracing back to politician Sir George Wigram Allen. Both parents maintained ties to England alongside their Australian roots, reflecting the family's Anglo-Australian heritage.^[8] In 1909, at the age of seven, Allen's family relocated to England, where he spent the remainder of his childhood and formative years.^[9] This move immersed him in an upper-class English environment, supported by his father's professional connections and the family's accumulated wealth from law practice.^[10] Raised amid such privilege, Allen developed early interests in cricket, influenced by familial ties to the sport through his uncle and broader establishment networks, though his parents emphasized education alongside recreation.^[11]

Schooling and University Career

Allen attended Eton College, where he honed his cricketing abilities under the coaching of George Hirst and C. M. "Father" Wells.^[9] His time at Eton spanned from approximately 1917 to 1921, during which he maintained a cricket diary documenting fixtures and performances.^[12] Following Eton, Allen matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, representing the university's cricket team in first-class matches during the 1922 and 1923 seasons.^[13]^[5] In 1923, he claimed 45 wickets at an average of 18.88, establishing himself as a promising fast bowler despite recurring muscle strains that hampered his consistency, including an injury during the University Match at Lord's.^[14] His academic tenure was brief; after two years, he faced suspension for insufficient scholarly effort.^[15]

First-Class Domestic Career

Cambridge University Matches

Allen made his first-class debut for Cambridge University in May 1922 against Yorkshire at Fenner's Ground.^[16] Over the 1922 and 1923 seasons, he appeared in several first-class fixtures for the university team, primarily as a fast bowler batting in the lower order.^[2] These matches provided an early platform for his aggressive right-arm pace bowling, honed from his Eton schooling, though his batting contributions remained modest with low scores and limited opportunities.^[9] A highlight came on 7–8 June 1922 versus Sussex at Cambridge, where Allen took 5 wickets for 34 runs in the visitors' first innings, helping restrict them and showcasing his potential on a batting-friendly pitch.^[17] His most notable performance occurred in the 1922 University Match against Oxford at Lord's from 12–14 July, claiming match figures of 9 wickets for 78 runs across both innings on a responsive surface, instrumental in Cambridge's decisive victory by an innings and 143 runs.^[18] In 1923, Allen continued to feature, including against Lancashire on 9–11 May at Fenner's, where the match ended in a draw amid competitive bowling efforts from both sides.^[19] He retained his blue by playing the University Match versus Oxford from 13–15 June, which also drew, taking wickets but without replicating his prior dominance.^[2] Across his Cambridge appearances, Allen's bowling emphasized accuracy and speed, laying groundwork for his later county and Test exploits, while his all-round utility earned recognition despite inconsistent personal returns.^[9]

Middlesex County Championship Performances

Allen represented Middlesex in 146 first-class matches between 1921 and 1950, the majority of which were County Championship fixtures, though his amateur status and banking career at the stock exchange restricted him to intermittent participation rather than consistent seasonal involvement.^[5] He captured 420 wickets for the county, primarily as a fast bowler capable of generating pace and maintaining accuracy on responsive pitches.^[5] His contributions as a lower-order batsman added hard-hitting impetus, though specific aggregates for Championship matches remain less documented than his bowling exploits. A standout achievement occurred on 15 June 1929 at Lord's in a County Championship encounter against reigning champions Lancashire, where Allen took all 10 wickets in their first innings for 40 runs—eight clean bowled, one caught behind, and one stumped.^[20] Delayed by work obligations and entering the match as his fourth first-class appearance that season, he swiftly dismantled the lineup, accounting for opener Charlie Hallows, Frank Watson (48), Jack Iddon (0), Len Hopwood, and Ernest Tyldesley among others.^[20] This demolition highlighted his raw speed and ability to exploit conditions without reliance on excessive movement. Earlier, in 1924 at Trent Bridge, Allen's 6 for 31 in 13 overs during Nottinghamshire's second innings triggered a collapse that secured a memorable victory for Middlesex against a formidable opponent.^[14] Such spells exemplified his tactical acumen in varying length and targeting stumps, often yielding multiple bowled dismissals. He secured ten wickets in a match on several occasions across his career, with several instances benefiting Middlesex's Championship efforts.^[14] Allen's county appearances dwindled in the 1930s due to Test selections and professional demands, including none in 1937 and limited outings in 1938.^[9] Post-war, he resumed sporadically through 1950, providing leadership and occasional breakthroughs amid Middlesex's competitive but trophy-less campaigns in the Championship.^[5] His overall impact elevated the side's bowling attack, though constrained availability prevented sustained dominance.

Test Match Playing Career

Debut and Initial Selections

Allen made his Test debut for England in the second match of the 1930 Ashes series against Australia at Lord's, from 27 June to 1 July.^[9] Batting at number eight, he contributed 57 runs to England's first-innings total of 425, helping to avoid the follow-on after Australia amassed 729.^[9] However, his fast bowling proved ineffective on a batsman-friendly pitch, yielding modest figures that did not warrant retention; he was omitted from the final three Tests despite England's 2–1 series win.^[9] Recalled a year later, Allen featured in all three Tests against New Zealand during their 1931 tour of England, with the itinerary expanded from one match after New Zealand's resilient showing in the opener at Lord's.^[9] He demonstrated greater all-round promise, highlighted by an unbeaten 122—his sole Test century—scored at number nine in the second Test at The Oval, where England won by an innings and 26 runs.^[9] His bowling complemented this, including 2 for 47 from 25 overs in the first Test, as England secured a clean sweep.^[21] Allen retained his place for the solitary Test against India at Lord's from 27 June to 1 July 1932, forming part of a four-man pace battery that dismissed India for 134 and 182 in pursuit of England's 385.^[9] These selections against weaker opponents underscored his versatility, though selectors noted his bowling's limitations against elite batsmen like those in Australia.^[10] His consistent domestic form, including notable all-round contributions for Middlesex, justified inclusion in the 1932–33 Ashes tour party under Douglas Jardine.^[9]

Role in the Bodyline Series

Gubby Allen was selected for the England team's 1932–33 tour of Australia, captaining the pre-tour matches in England and contributing to the squad's preparation for the Ashes series.^[22] During the five-Test series, which England won 4–1 amid controversy over captain Douglas Jardine's deployment of fast leg-theory bowling directed at the batsmen's bodies—known as Bodyline—Allen took 21 wickets at an average of 28.23 runs per wicket, primarily using conventional fast-medium bowling without adopting the intimidatory tactics.^[23] ^[9] Allen explicitly refused to bowl Bodyline, telling Jardine, "I've never done that, and it's not the way I want to play cricket," when instructed to do so, viewing the method as contrary to his principles of the game.^[23] In a confrontation, Jardine accused him of avoiding it for reasons of personal popularity, prompting Allen to threaten cabling the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and demanding exclusion from the side until Jardine backed down; Allen continued playing but adhered to his stance, often fielding in the leg trap and taking six catches there.^[23] ^[22] Despite his opposition—privately describing Jardine as a "perfect swine" in letters home—Allen's contributions, including eight wickets against Australia's lower-order batsmen (positions 8–11), aided England's victory, and Jardine later commended his "magnificent example" in a letter to Allen's father.^[22] Upon returning to England, Allen voiced his disapproval of Bodyline to MCC officials, influencing debates on the tactic's ethics and contributing to its eventual condemnation by the governing body.^[9]

Peak Performances and Tactical Contributions

Allen's most notable Test bowling performance occurred during the 1932–33 Ashes series in Australia, where he secured 21 wickets at an average of 16.19, the highest tally among English bowlers after Harold Larwood's 33.^[9] This haul included consistent spells of fast-medium swing bowling on varied pitches, demonstrating his ability to exploit conditions without short-pitched aggression. His overall Test career yielded 81 wickets at 29.37, with five five-wicket innings hauls, underscoring sustained effectiveness as an all-rounder who prioritized precision over intimidation.^[24] Tactically, Allen's refusal to adopt Bodyline leg-theory bowling—short-pitched deliveries aimed at the batsman's body with a packed leg-side field—marked a significant contribution during the same series. Despite captain Douglas Jardine's insistence, Allen declined, informing him, "I've never done that, and it's not the way I want to play," thereby maintaining a straight-on approach focused on swing and seam movement.^[25] This stance, which split opinions within the England team, highlighted an alternative to confrontational tactics, emphasizing skill-based dismissal over physical deterrence and influencing post-series debates on fair play.^[4] Another peak came in the 1931 Test against New Zealand at Auckland, where Allen recorded his career-best match figures of 10/78, including 7/80 in the first innings, dismantling the batting lineup through accurate length bowling on a responsive pitch.^[24] In 1936, captaining England against India at Lord's, he claimed 5/35—his finest innings as skipper—by varying pace and exploiting early movement to break key partnerships.^[26] These efforts exemplified his tactical acumen in setting fields for swing rather than leg-side traps, promoting a balanced attack that relied on bowler craft and pitch exploitation over intimidatory methods.

Captaincy and the 1936–37 Ashes

George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen was appointed captain of the England team for the 1936–37 Ashes tour to Australia in late March 1936, following the selectors' decision to drop Bob Wyatt after England's 2–1 home series loss to Australia in 1934.^[27] As an amateur cricketer, Allen's selection over the professional Wally Hammond aligned with the Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) longstanding tradition favoring "gentlemen" for leadership roles, despite Hammond's superior batting record.^[28] This marked Allen's first major Test captaincy assignment, building on his recent success leading England to a 2–0 victory in the three-match series against India earlier in 1936, where he demonstrated tactical acumen and team management.^[9] The touring party of 17 players departed England in September 1936, arriving in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 6 October, with the explicit goal of retaining the Ashes while fostering improved relations after the divisive Bodyline tactics employed under Douglas Jardine in 1932–33.^[29] ^[30] Allen's leadership emphasized attacking, merit-based cricket, explicitly banning Bodyline-style short-pitched bowling directed at the batsman's body and instead instructing his fast bowlers—such as Ken Farnes and Bill Voce—to target the stumps and off-side with fuller lengths on lively pitches.^[31] ^[32] This approach, which Allen had personally refused during the 1932–33 tour, aimed to rebuild goodwill with Australian spectators and officials, contributing to a more cordial atmosphere throughout the series compared to the prior acrimony.^[33] His style was democratic, involving consultations with senior players like Hammond and Hedley Verity on field placements and strategies, while maintaining personal oversight of bowling plans to exploit conditions like the sticky wickets encountered early in the tour.^[34] Allen bowled with characteristic pace and accuracy himself, often opening the attack, and prioritized fitness and team morale through structured practice and social engagements. The series commenced with England securing a commanding 376-run victory in the First Test at Brisbane from 4–9 December 1936, where Allen's 5/36 spearheaded Australia's collapse to 58 all out on a rain-affected pitch—their lowest Test total at home in the [20th century](/page/20th century).^[35] He contributed 35 and 68 with the bat, plus 3/71 in the first innings, helping England post 395 and 224/7 declared.^[36] The Second Test at Sydney, from 13–19 December, resulted in an 8-wicket win after England declared at 426/6—driven by Hammond's 231 not out—with Australia dismissed for 80 and 356; Allen bowled effectively in support.^[28] Australia, under Don Bradman, rallied to win the Third Test at Melbourne by 365 runs (January 1937), sparked by Allen's aggressive declaration at 193/5 on the second day to force play, only for Bradman to respond with 270 and declare at 554/8.^[30] Victories followed for Australia in the Fourth Test at Adelaide (by 148 runs) and the decisive Fifth at Melbourne (by 3 wickets on 28 February 1937), reclaiming the Ashes 3–2—the only instance of a team recovering from 0–2 down in an Ashes series.^[37] Allen's personal series aggregate stood at 103 runs and 10 wickets, with his influence most pronounced in the early triumphs before age (34) and minor strains limited his later bowling.^[9] Despite the defeat, contemporaries praised his sportsmanship and refusal of intimidatory tactics, which mitigated crowd hostility and earned respect from Bradman, who later rated Allen among the finest captains he faced for fair play.^[38] Teammate Jack Hobbs and Wisden noted the democratic nature of his regime and its role in team cohesion, though private letters revealed mounting frustration under pressure as the series slipped away.^[39] ^[34] Upon return, Allen's reputation as a leader was bolstered, positioning him as a contender for the 1938 home Ashes captaincy, though Hammond ultimately succeeded him.^[40]

Cricketing Technique and Style

Bowling Approach

Gubby Allen's bowling approach featured a distinctive curved run-up to the wicket, earning him the nickname "Round the Corner Allen" due to its unusual path.^[41] This method contributed to the surprise element in his delivery, complementing his right-arm fast bowling style. His action was characterized by superb rhythm and a perfect alignment, enabling him to generate exceptional pace through meticulous physical conditioning and boundless energy.^[42] Allen maintained a full follow-through, emphasizing accuracy over unorthodox tactics, with a focus on off-side attacks that relied on seam movement and outright speed rather than short-pitched intimidation.^[42] Critics noted variability in his execution, ranging from "piercing accuracy" to occasional irrelevance, yet his orthodox technique proved effective in key performances, such as taking all ten wickets for 40 runs against Lancashire in 1929.^[15] Allen's refusal to adopt Bodyline tactics during the 1932–33 Ashes series underscored his commitment to traditional fast bowling principles, prioritizing skill and line over leg-side barrages.^[42]

Batting and All-Round Abilities

Allen was a right-handed batsman who typically occupied the lower-middle order, providing valuable support to the top order while complementing his primary role as a fast bowler. In first-class cricket from 1921 to 1954, he accumulated 9,233 runs across 265 matches at an average of 28.67, demonstrating consistency in a supporting capacity.^[2] His sole first-class century, a score of 122, was achieved at Lord's, where he batted at number 7, highlighting his ability to anchor innings under pressure.^[9] ^[43] In Test matches, Allen's batting yielded 750 runs in 25 appearances at an average of 24.19, with his highest score again 122, underscoring his utility in contributing runs during challenging situations.^[24] ^[9] He scored no Test centuries but registered several fifties, often stabilizing the innings after early collapses, as seen in his career aggregate that balanced his more prominent wicket-taking exploits.^[44] As an all-rounder, Allen's batting prowess enhanced his fast bowling, enabling him to influence matches holistically; contemporaries noted his capacity for quick scoring when set, adding depth to teams like Middlesex and England.^[45] This versatility was evident in domestic seasons where he frequently contributed 30-50 runs in second innings to set up bowling victories, though his batting peaked less spectacularly than his bowling feats.^[15]

Wartime and Immediate Post-War Activities

Military Service

Allen enlisted in the Territorial Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in July 1938, prior to the outbreak of war.^[9] His unit, part of the Royal Artillery, focused initially on anti-aircraft defense, where he commanded a battery during the early phases of World War II.^[46] ^[42] In May–June 1940, Allen served at the Air Component base in Folkestone, playing a role in coordinating the Dunkirk evacuation amid the British Expeditionary Force's withdrawal from France.^[47] Having trained previously with the City of London Yeomanry, he later shifted to intelligence duties, with periods of attachment to the Royal Air Force, contributing to Allied air operations in Europe.^[9] ^[48] Allen rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during the conflict, demonstrating meritorious conduct in his artillery and intelligence roles.^[49] His military involvement extended into the immediate postwar period, concluding a career in the British Army that spanned from 1921 to 1950.^[49]

Return to Cricket Administration

Following demobilization from military service in July 1945, Allen rejoined the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Committee, resuming the role he had first assumed in 1935 prior to the war.^[15] This re-entry positioned him to influence the governance and revival of English cricket amid post-war challenges, including the reorganization of domestic and international fixtures disrupted by hostilities.^[15] Allen's administrative return coincided with limited playing commitments, culminating in his captaincy of the MCC team—effectively representing England—to the West Indies in 1947–48, a tour that tested leadership amid logistical strains and competitive demands following a six-year international hiatus.^[9]^[10] The series, drawn 0–0 across five matches, highlighted persistent issues in team selection and preparation, yet affirmed Allen's stature in bridging playing and oversight functions during cricket's tentative postwar recovery.^[9] From this platform, he advanced toward more prominent committee responsibilities, laying groundwork for subsequent selector and oversight duties.^[15]

Administrative Influence in Cricket

Early MCC Roles

Following his military service in World War II, Allen returned to involvement with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), where he had been elected to the main committee as early as 1929 during his playing career. In the immediate post-war period, he emerged as a influential committee member, advocating for reforms to support professional cricketers and enhance coaching infrastructure. In 1949, Allen proposed granting honorary life-membership to retired professionals, a measure aimed at recognizing their contributions amid evolving post-war cricket dynamics.^[42] That same year, disturbed by the substandard fielding and basics displayed by young players during a match at Lord's, he pushed for systematic youth development initiatives.^[42] Allen's efforts culminated in the establishment of the MCC Youth Cricket Association in 1951, of which he was a founding member, alongside the launch of a national coaching scheme to standardize skills training across counties.^[42] ^[3] He also nominated H. S. Altham for the role of MCC Treasurer, facilitating administrative modernization. In 1951, Allen organized the inaugural national coaching conference at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, bringing together experts to address technical deficiencies; this event laid groundwork for broader instructional reforms.^[42] Concurrently, he co-authored the MCC Cricket Coaching Book, a manual intended to disseminate best practices to emerging players and coaches.^[42] These initiatives reflected Allen's emphasis on grassroots development over immediate elite performance, prioritizing long-term sustainability in English cricket amid concerns over declining standards post-war. By 1952, the Youth Cricket Association had introduced coaching awards to incentivize proficiency, underscoring Allen's hands-on approach to nurturing talent outside Test selection.^[3] His early administrative work thus bridged playing-era insights with post-war governance, setting the stage for his later dominance in MCC decision-making.^[42]

Test Selector Responsibilities

Allen served as Chairman of the England Test selectors from 1955 to 1961, a role in which he bore primary responsibility for assembling the national team for international matches, including squad selection, player evaluations, and strategic input on team composition.^[9] In this capacity, he collaborated closely with Test captains such as Peter May, influencing decisions on batting orders, bowling attacks, and recalls of experienced players; for instance, he urged May to reinstate certain performers to bolster the side during key series.^[50] His tenure coincided with England's resurgence, marked by regaining the Ashes 2–1 at home against Australia in 1956 after the 1954–55 defeat, alongside victories in home series against Pakistan (1954, though pre-full chairmanship) and India (1959), reflecting effective selections that leveraged a balanced attack featuring pacemen like Brian Statham and Fred Trueman alongside spinners Tony Lock and Jim Laker.^[9] Allen's approach to selection was notably interventionist and detail-oriented, extending beyond mere panel consensus to personal scouting of county matches and direct engagement with players and coaches to assess form and fitness.^[15] He prioritized cricketing merit, technical proficiency, and team harmony, often favoring aggressive, attacking styles aligned with his own playing philosophy, while working to integrate emerging talents like Colin Cowdrey and Ted Dexter into the core group.^[5] This hands-on method contributed to a stable leadership structure under May, who captained 41 Tests during this era, yielding 20 wins, though the 1958–59 Ashes loss in Australia highlighted vulnerabilities in overseas adaptation despite close contests.^[9] As selector, Allen also advised on broader policy matters intersecting with team choices, such as enforcing standards against illegal bowling actions through MCC channels, ensuring selected bowlers adhered to fair play norms informed by his experience with pre-war umpiring controversies.^[3] His decisions emphasized long-term development, resisting short-term populism in favor of proven reliability, which sustained England's competitiveness against touring sides like West Indies (drawn 1957) and New Zealand (won 1958), though critics later noted a conservative bent toward established county performers over radical innovations.^[15]

The D'Oliveira Affair

As Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) treasurer in 1968, Gubby Allen wielded significant influence over England cricket selections despite not being the formal chairman, a position held by Doug Insole. The affair centered on Basil D'Oliveira, a Cape Coloured cricketer who had qualified for England and scored 158 not out in the final Ashes Test at The Oval on August 22, 1968, yet was omitted from the initial touring party to South Africa announced on August 27, citing inadequate recent bowling form as the reason. Allen had reportedly objected to D'Oliveira's original inclusion on purely cricketing grounds, reflecting his view that the all-rounder's medium-pace bowling did not meet Test standards for the tour.^[51]^[52] The omission sparked public outrage in Britain, with allegations that selectors bowed to apartheid-era South African pressure to exclude non-white players. On September 12, 1968, after Warwickshire all-rounder Tom Cartwright withdrew due to a finger injury sustained in county cricket, the selectors reversed course and named D'Oliveira as replacement. Prior to this decision, Allen received a confidential communication from South African Cricket Association (SACA) president Jack Cheetham, warning that D'Oliveira's selection—viewed by Pretoria as a political statement—would render the tour impossible under apartheid laws classifying him as "Coloured." Allen advised Cheetham against forwarding the letter to the MCC committee, fearing its contents would be "twisted and leaked to the press," thereby insulating the selection process from external influence.^[53]^[52]^[54] South African Prime Minister John Vorster declared on September 24, 1968, that the team was not acceptable due to D'Oliveira's inclusion, prompting the MCC to cancel the tour on October 17, 1968, after SACA confirmed Pretoria's stance. Allen initially denied receiving any such correspondence when questioned, later justifying the non-disclosure as a means to prioritize cricketing merit over politics, though critics, including D'Oliveira's biographers, accused him of enabling a politically naive decision that doomed the tour while concealing diplomatic realities. This episode marked the beginning of South Africa's cricketing isolation, with Allen's handling drawing scrutiny for prioritizing administrative discretion amid growing anti-apartheid sentiment, yet he retained his position amid internal MCC divisions.^[55]^[54]^[53]

Broader Legacy and Criticisms

Allen exerted considerable influence on the governance and development of cricket through his extensive administrative roles at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), including serving as president from 1963 to 1964 and treasurer from 1964 to 1976.^[42] He was instrumental in establishing the MCC Youth Cricket Association in 1952 and co-authoring The MCC Cricket Coaching Book, which became a foundational text for coaching.^[3] As chairman of the England Test selection committee from 1955 to 1961, Allen prioritized player "class" over statistical averages, contributing to series victories against the West Indies, India, South Africa, and New Zealand during that period.^[42] His efforts addressed key issues such as match overs-rates, the laws on leg before wicket and no-balls, the use of bouncers, and the throwing crisis resolved in collaboration with Don Bradman between 1958 and 1961.^[42] Allen's broader legacy includes his principled refusal to employ Bodyline tactics during the 1932–33 Ashes tour, where he took 21 wickets without compromising his ethical stance against intimidating bowling, earning praise for upholding the spirit of the game.^[3] Knighted in 1986, his half-century of involvement was described in his obituary as having a stronger impact on cricket's welfare than any figure since Lord Harris.^[14] However, this influence was marked by a commitment to traditional English cricket values, often emphasizing amateur ethos and establishment norms over rapid modernization. Criticisms of Allen center on his perceived elitism and class biases, evident in a 1933 letter deriding working-class bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce as "swollen-headed gutless uneducated miners," and in selections favoring players with "clipped accents" over talents like Les Jackson, Tom Graveney, and Fred Trueman.^[3] In the 1968 D'Oliveira affair, as MCC treasurer, Allen advocated against selecting Basil D'Oliveira for the tour to South Africa, citing cricketing merits while aware of Prime Minister John Vorster's warnings that his inclusion would jeopardize the tour; this "blinkered get-the-tour-on approach" was faulted for political naivety and prioritizing relations with the apartheid regime over merit and anti-racism principles.^[52] His abrasive opinions often dominated MCC decisions, contributing to perceptions of authoritarianism and insensitivity to broader social changes in cricket.^[52]

References

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Gubby Allen Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video
Allen led England in 11 of his 25 Tests, before retiring to even greater influence behind the scenes in the MCC committee-room. He was captain against India in ...
[2]
Gubby Allen - CricketArchive
Biography: Through his membership of many committees, he was a key figure in UK cricket administration 1935-76. MCC president 1963-64, treasurer 1964-76.
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Gubby Allen - The Cricketer
Oct 16, 2016 · Middlesex and England seamer Gubby Allen was a pillar of the Establishment. Many laud him for refusing to bowl Bodyline. Others hate him for various incidents.
[4]
Bodyline cricket series, 1932-33 | State Library of New South Wales
Although a member of the English team, Gubby Allen was born in Sydney. His full name was George Oswald Browning Allen and his nickname was derived from his ...
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Sir Gubby Allen CBE TD - Middlesex Cricket
He played 265 first-class matches scoring 9,233 runs and he took 788 wickets before retiring in 1950. He served as Chairman of the Test Selectors and as ...
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Jan. 18, 1933, pg.1 in Sir Walter Allen - letters from George 'Gubby ...
Letter from Gubby Allen to his father, Jan. 18, 1933 ~ Jan. 18, 1933, pg. 1 in Sir Walter Allen - letters from George 'Gubby' Allen, 1932-33 1932-33, 1936-37.
[7]
Arthur Denis Wigram Allen - Australian Dictionary of Biography
Arthur Denis Wigram Allen (1894-1967), solicitor and aviator, was born on 19 August 1894 at Burwood, Sydney, second of four children of native-born parents.Missing: upbringing | Show results with:upbringing
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Reginald Allen (Australian cricketer) - Wikipedia
George Wigram Allen (father) Gubby Allen (nephew). International information ... He was the uncle of the England Test captain Gubby Allen, who was born in ...
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Born in Australia, English Ashes Captain | Cricket Web
George Oswald Browning Allen, always known as 'Gubby', was born in Australia in 1902. His family brought him to England at the age of six and, after being ...
[10]
Gubby Allen's Playing Career - Old Ebor - WordPress.com
Jul 7, 2025 · Born in Australia but raised in England from the age of six, George Oswald Browning Allen (his nickname of Gubby came from his initials G. O. B. ...
[11]
Groomed for success | ESPNcricinfo
Aug 11, 2005 · It was a conversation with Wells on a golf course which persuaded Gubby's father to send his son to Eton. Plum Warner, a former Middlesex team ...
[12]
SCH SP CRI 17 | Eton Collections - Eton College Collections
Cricket: Diary and fixtures of "Gubby" Allen. Level. File. Date. 1917 - 1921. Location of this record in the archive hierarchy.
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Gubby Allen - CricketArchive
Full name: George Oswald Browning Allen. Born: 31st July 1902, Bellevue Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Died: 29th November 1989, St John's Wood, ...Missing: early life
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Gubby Allen
Jun 27, 2001 · Gubby Allen, who died on November 29, 1989, aged 87, had a stronger influence on the welfare and development of cricket than anyone since Lord ...
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Gubby Allen, Dictator of English cricket | Old Ebor - WordPress.com
Jul 21, 2025 · Gubby Allen was one of the most significant figures in English cricket in the second half of the twentieth century. His role in numerous ...
[16]
CambU vs YOR Cricket Scorecard at Cambridge, May 24 - 26, 1922
Live Cricket Scoreboard: Get Cambridge University vs Yorkshire cricket scorecard, University Match 1922 dated May 24 - 26, 1922 ... Gubby Allen. c Wilson b ...Missing: performances 1923
[17]
CambU vs SUS Cricket Scorecard at Cambridge, June 07 - 08, 1922
Live Cricket Scoreboard: Get Cambridge University vs Sussex cricket scorecard, University Match 1922 dated June 07 - 08, 1922 ... Gubby Allen. c & b AHH Gilligan ...Missing: performances 1923
[18]
Best bowling figures in a match in 1922 in - ESPNcricinfo
GOB Allen. 42.1, 21, 78, 9, 1.84, Cambridge U, v Oxford Uni · Lord's, 10 Jul ... Oxford Uni, v F Foresters · Oxford, 20 May 1922, First-class · RC Robertson- ...
[19]
Cambridge University v Lancashire at Cambridge, 9-11 May 1923
University Match, 1923. Cambridge University v Lancashire F.P.Fenner's Ground, Cambridge 9,10,11 May 1923 (3-day match). Result: Match drawn.Missing: Gubby performances 1922
[20]
1929, Middlesex's Gubby Allen takes all ten wickets in an innings
Allen got them both, one caught behind, one clean bowled and ran through the rest of the batting order claiming all ten for just 40 runs. Eight were clean ...Missing: statistics | Show results with:statistics
[21]
ENG vs NZ Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at London, June 27 - 30, 1931
Get cricket scorecard of 1st Test, ENG vs NZ, New Zealand tour of England 1931 at Lord's, London dated June 27 - 30, 1931.
[22]
Gubby Allen – Bad Boy of Bodyline - Cricket Web
Mar 1, 2020 · A good biography of Allen. It's been done, of course, but by EW Swanton, who was a close friend of Allen's and produced a hagiography of little value.Missing: family parents upbringing<|separator|>
[23]
Gubby Allen: Refused to bowl Bodyline, but why? - CricketMash
Jul 30, 2020 · He refused to bowl Bodyline. Jardine insisted, Gubby Allen refused. “I've never done that, and it's not the way I want to play cricket.”
[24]
Gubby Allan - Player Profile & Statistical Summary - Test Cricket
Full Name: George Oswald Browning Allen, Born: 31st July, 1902, Died: 29th November, 1989 (aged 87 years 121 days), Bats: Right Handed, Bowls: Right Arm Fast.
[25]
Inside the Bodyline Ashes series - cricket's darkest hour that ruined ...
Jul 7, 2023 · Another fast bowler, Gubby Allen, refused, telling Jardine: “I've never done that, and it's not the way I want to play.” But the captain ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[26]
Top 5 best bowling figures by a captain in Tests at Lord's ft. Pat ...
Jun 12, 2025 · #3 Gubby Allen - 5/35 vs India, 1936 However, their 62-run stand was put to an end by Gubby Allen, who went past the defense of Merchant (35). ...
[27]
The Stories of England's Captains, Part 2 of 4 | Cricket Web
Aug 23, 2020 · Once the selectors dropped Wyatt back into the ranks the leadership baton passed to Gubby Allen, who led England at home against India in 1936 ...
[28]
The Bradman surge of 1936/37: The story of the only Test comeback ...
Jul 4, 2023 · The amateur Allen's choice over the professional Wally Hammond as captain had to more to do with the times than anything else. In 1937, Hammond ...Missing: tactics | Show results with:tactics
[29]
Test Cricket Tours - England to Australia 1936-37
Gubby Allen was given the captaincy at the end of March 1936. The first announcement about members of the team came on 20 July when seven players (Allen, ...Missing: Ashes | Show results with:Ashes<|separator|>
[30]
Ashes 1936-37 - Don Bradman and the best innings of the century
Feb 2, 2015 · In a brilliant tactical move he sent a messenger to the England dressing room to verify that Allen had indeed closed the innings. He feigned ...
[31]
Has a team won the Ashes from 2-0 down? Biggest comeback in ...
Jul 10, 2023 · Allen, whose status as the fast bowler that refused to adhere to bodyline tactics in 1932/33 made him a heavily symbolic captain, dismissed ...<|separator|>
[32]
A dummy's guide to Bodyline | ESPNcricinfo
Oct 25, 2007 · There were no fielding restrictions, so players were planted in a close ring, or leg trap, around the batsman on the legside. They were ready to ...Missing: opposition | Show results with:opposition
[33]
Gubby Allen | State Library of New South Wales
Oct 31, 2008 · Although a member of the English team, Gubby Allen was born in Sydney in 1902. His full name was George Oswald Browning Allen and his ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography<|separator|>
[34]
Gubby Allen | Old Ebor - WordPress.com
... mother was a teenager who still lived at home when he was born; therefore he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents. Although it was a very ...Missing: upbringing | Show results with:upbringing
[35]
Australia bowled out for their lowest score at home in 20th century
Dec 9, 2013 · Gubby Allen's spell of 5 for 36 on a sticky wicket helped England bowl Australia out for 58 at Brisbane in 1936-37 © Getty Images.
[36]
Ashes Cricket Series 1936-37 - Indra Vikram Singh's space
Sep 3, 2014 · Gubby Allen, on the other hand, had a happy match with scores of 35 and 68, and bowling figures of three for 71 and five for 36. (Author ...
[37]
Australia must emulate Bradman\'s men from 1936-37 to overturn ...
Jul 31, 2013 · Gubby Allen's tourists took the first two Tests in the winter of 1936-37, but lost 3-2, the only time this has happened in Tests. If only ...
[38]
20 great Ashes moments No4: Don Bradman records Wisden's best ...
May 9, 2013 · “There was certainly a section of the public who thought the cares of captaincy were undermining my efficiency.” England's captain, Gubby Allen, ...
[39]
Gubby Under Pressure - Cricket Web
Mar 1, 2020 · Gubby has been magnificent was Robins verdict, adding that he is in great form and as fit as a fiddle. All in all Allen's letters home in 1936/ ...Missing: captaincy | Show results with:captaincy
[40]
The Ashes 1936–37 | Old Ebor
As Swanton put it: “Gubby was angry that the captains' roles were not reversed. In the event he declined, saying he was not fit, and he did not again appear in ...
[41]
Mighty man of parts | ESPNcricinfo
Feb 27, 2004 · But the most striking aspect of his bowling was a curious, curved approach to the wicket that earned him the unwieldy nickname `Round The Corner ...
[42]
Gubby Allen | ESPNcricinfo
Apr 15, 1990 · He took ten wickets in a match on nine occasions. His Test record was 750 runs at 24.19 and 81 wickets for 29.37. With his death cricket lost ...
[43]
5 players to do the treble on the Lord's Honours Board - Sportskeeda
Aug 12, 2018 · A lower order handy batsmen and a fearsome fast bowler who led England's attack with the new ball, Gubby registered his only century at Lord's ...<|separator|>
[44]
Gubby Allen batting bowling stats, averages and cricket statistics, 2025
Gubby AllenEngland. INTL CAREER: 1930 - 1948. Gubby Allen. Overview · Stats · Records · Matches · News · Photos. Career Statistics. Tests. Batting. Statsguru ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
[45]
Sir Gubby Allen Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats
A fast bowler who was also a dependable lower middle order batsman, Allen's career was fairly long, spanning close to three decades.<|separator|>
[46]
Reflecting on lives of two cricket stars who are buried at Brookwood
Aug 15, 2023 · Reader Bruce McLaren has written to say the Englishman was Sir George Oswald Browning “Gubby” Allen, and the Australian was Frederick Robert Spofforth.
[47]
How English cricket survived the Second World War – Almanack
May 8, 2020 · The former England captain Gubby Allen was at the Air Component base in Folkestone, where the Dunkirk evacuation was co-ordinated. His brief ...<|separator|>
[48]
A Post War K.B. and C.B.E. group of seven to Sir G.O.B. ... - Bonhams
1947. Lieutenant Colonel George oswald Browning Allen, British Army, displayed exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services ...
[49]
Lot 617, 19 May 2021 | Noonans Mayfair
The original citation states: 'Lieutenant Colonel George Oswald Browning Allen, British Army ... Forces ... career lasting from 1921 to 1950. A fast bowler ...
[50]
Wikipedia:Peer review/Gubby Allen/archive1
After the Second World War. "he served on the MCC Committee again" → "he rejoined the MCC Committee"? ... Shouldn't we give the exact date he was born here and ...
[51]
Joe Root's reluctance to bat No3 leaves England selectors in a tangle
Sep 26, 2017 · Allen, England captain and MCC president, was also the chair of selectors between 1955 and 1962. It was Allen who persuaded Peter May to recall ...
[52]
Dolly mixture - ESPN
... Gubby Allen, who objected to D'Oliveira on purely cricketing grounds. Only Kenyon, the former Worcestershire captain, could be considered not a member of ...
[53]
Dropping Dolly: The D'Oliveira affair 50 years on - Wisden
Jul 27, 2018 · I think only two, three or four major people within MCC dealt with the political side of things. There was Billy Griffith, Gubby Allen, Doug ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[54]
[PDF] MCC, English Complicity and The D'Oliveira Affair
Douglas-Home to MCC three weeks earlier, that no answer could be given to “a hypothetical question”.26. Advised by Gubby Allen, Cobham relayed the ...Missing: administration | Show results with:administration
[55]
D'Oliveira and tale of deceit | Cricket - The Guardian
Jun 19, 2004 · He contends that Gubby Allen, the autocratic treasurer of the MCC, withheld a letter from the South African Cricket Association from his ...Missing: administration | Show results with:administration
[56]
The D'Oliveira Affair | ESPNcricinfo
It, therefore, avoids having to press the matter further. Gubby Allen, the MCC treasurer, later denies ever having received any correspondence.