by Arunabha Sengupta
Peter McAlister was not really one of the best batsmen of all time.
In fact, in eight Tests played intermittently over a period of five and a half years, managed a highest of 41. An average of 16.80 for his meagre collection of 252 runs speak with rather uncomfortable eloquence about his abilities.
However, he was an important cog for the newly formed Australian Board of Control. A devoted yes-man of the Board, a powerful administrator from Victoria, the trusted spy for the Board power-monger Billy McElhone.
McAlister was overlooked for the 1905 Ashes tour. After all, the Board was still in its infancy.
But, after being appointed a selector for the 1909 tour, he persuaded his co-selectors to send him to England as player-treasurer. As vice-captain to Monty Noble, no less.
A calculated move to keep an eye on the team, break the player-power and seize control over the lucrative money pot so far controlled by the cricketers.
And also a perfect move to make him the most unpopular man in the touring party.
The summer did not really end in a blaze of glory for McAlister. He averaged 16.33 in the Tests, 29 overall in the tour, and fell out with most of the team. He also proved himself incompetent as a treasurer.
McAlister never played Test cricket again, but continued his role as selector. Alongside captain and batting great Clem Hill, and the former Test cricketer Frank Iredale.
It was to choose the Australia side for the Melbourne Test of 1911-12 that the three selectors met at Bulls Chambers, a building at Martin Place (then known as Moore Street). At 8 o’clock on 3 February 1912.
Things were already heated. SF Barnes and Frank Foster had the Australians in all sorts of difficulties, a young Jack Hobbs had just scored 187 in the last Test. England were now 2-1 up in the series after losing the first Test. Besides, already six major Australian cricketers, Hill, Trumper, Cotter, Carter, Ransford and Armstrong, had sent a fateful letter to the Board, making themselves unavailable for the 1912 summer tour of England unless certain demands were met. Signs were clear that the impasse, now known as the Big Six Dispute, would continue.
Besides, McAlister had fallen out with Hill over team selection matters. A number of heated telegrams had already been exchanged.
Hill arrived from Manly an hour late for the following evening’s selection meeting. McAlister was there with Iredale and the Board secretary Syd Smith.
Smith later disclosed what transpired next.
Before Smith could talk about the meeting’s agenda, Hill and McAlister were already arguing about the use of several bowlers in the recent Test matches.
A rather disgusted Hill asked McAlister what his experience as captain was. The pompous ex-cricketer replied, “At all events I am a better skipper than either Trumper, Armstrong or yourself.”.
By now Hill was livid. He let McAlister know that he knew nothing about captaincy. To this McAlister retorted, “You are the worst captain I have seen.”
Now Hill stood up and leaned across the table.
“You’ve been looking for a bloody punch in the jaw all night and I will give you one,” he said and proceeded to walk the talk.
There followed a terrific blow to the face and soon Hill was pushing McAlister almost through the open window.
Not a pleasant thought, they were three storeys up in the building. Iredale, jammed in a corner with the table pressed against him, somehow freed himself and grabbed at McAlister’s arm. Smith pulled at Hill by his coat tails. It took a while for them to separate the combatants.
Hill proceeded to walk out of the room while McAlister, on the floor and bloodied, yelled: “Come back and fight, you coward.”
For Syd Smith this was the first selectorial meeting—a baptism by fire by all counts. He recalled that the language before, during and after the fisticuff remained fascinatingly colourful.
Strangely, after Hill’s departure the selection meeting continued. Stranger still Hill continued to lead the side for the rest of the series.
It was even more surprising because the press had a field day with the story. Hill talked about the fracas to fast bowler Tibby Cotter and Cotter passed it on to his friend Joe Davis, sports editor of Herald.
The punch seemed to have its effect. McAlister’s involvement in the game decreased rather significantly after that. He remained a Victoria Cricket Association delegate but did not meddle with the Australian side.
Rowland Bowen, in his inimitable way, analysed McAlister’s photograph and described him as a fanatic. Ray Robinson, who knew him later in life, said he was a tall and reserved man whose smile could melt his Scottish dourness.
A 1929 picture shows Hill and McAllister, by now respectively middle-aged and old, posing in a group photograph during the Melbourne Test between England and Australia. They stand far apart, with plenty of Australian greats in between, but things seem cordial enough.
Peter McAlister was by no means a good cricketer, but his impact on the game was full of drama. He was born on 11 July 1869.