Abstract

The author gives a brief outline of Jack March, an Aboriginal first class cricketer. He claims that the dispute over his selection for the Western Cricket Union to play against Archie MacLaren's English team at Bathurst in February 1902 was not just a racist matter. He explains how MacLaren objected to playing with Marsh, the discussions and meeting which followed, and the fact that MacLaren and his team declined to visit Bathurst unless Marsh was withdrawn. The author explains the various meetings that were held and the lobbying that was going on. In the end Marsh was withdrawn. The author assesses the possibility of a hidden agenda, and explains why MacLaren and M.A. Noble (selector for New South Wales) may have acted in such a way. He explains how MacLaren could protect his own players and deny Australia's best bowler the chance to be selected in the remaining test matches if Marsh was withdrawn. He describes Marsh's subsequent career, the issue of match umpires and assesses Noble's action in not selecting Marsh and the various reactions to it; claiming that Noble may even have been jealous of Marsh. He closes by giving a brief outline of Marsh's career after this incident. Eaton