Ambassadors of Goodwill: MCC tours 1946/47-1970/71

The MCC had embraced the amateur ideal of cricket since Victorian times, but its privileged elite were part of a British establishment that revelled in its national prestige and imperial hegemony. Winning at cricket was essential to maintaining this stature, and the MCC's attempt to foster goodwill within the Empire via long, formal overseas tours was met with conflict. After the war, Len Hutton's appointment as England's first professional captain led to discord off the field, and managers were installed to restore diplomatic harmony. However, with the growing upheavals of the late 60s, cricket became increasingly associated with nationality, race, and professional cynicism, signaling the MCC's waning influence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2018
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

Since the Victorian era, the MCC has embraced the amateur ideal that cricket is more than just a game. It was the very essence of camaraderie and good sportsmanship. Yet, for all their evangelizing, the game's privileged elite were part of a British establishment that reveled in its national prestige and imperial hegemony. And winning at cricket was essential to maintaining that stature.

Ambassadors of Goodwill assesses the MCC's attempt to marry these conflicting objectives and foster goodwill within the Empire via long, formal overseas tours. After the war, the amateur ideal suffered when Len Hutton was appointed England's first professional captain. His uncompromising leadership brought success on the field but discord off it. Managers were installed to restore diplomatic harmony, but with the growing upheavals of the late 60s, cricket became increasingly associated with nationality, race, and professional cynicism. Ray Illingworth's controversial win in Australia in 1970/71 clearly signaled the MCC's waning influence.

The MCC's attempt to marry its conflicting objectives and foster goodwill within the Empire via long, formal overseas tours is a fascinating and complex topic. The amateur ideal that cricket was more than just a game was a powerful force in the early days of the MCC, but as the game became increasingly professional and associated with national prestige, the elite's involvement in the British establishment became more apparent. The appointment of Len Hutton as England's first professional captain in 1947 marked a significant turning point, as his uncompromising leadership brought success on the field but also led to discord off it. Managers were installed to restore diplomatic harmony, but with the growing upheavals of the late 60s, cricket became increasingly associated with nationality, race, and professional cynicism.

The controversial win by Ray Illingworth in Australia in 1970/71 was a clear signal of the MCC's waning influence. Illingworth's win was seen as a triumph for the amateur ideal, as he had refused to play the game according to the professional rules and had instead focused on playing the game the way it was meant to be played. However, his win was also seen as a sign of the growing divide between the amateur and professional factions of cricket, and it marked the beginning of a period of decline for the MCC.

Despite these challenges, the MCC has continued to play an important role in the development of cricket and in fostering goodwill within the Empire. The club has continued to host overseas tours, and it has worked to promote the game's values of camaraderie, good sportsmanship, and fair play. However, the club's ability to maintain its position as a leading force in cricket will depend on its ability to adapt to the changing landscape of the game and to continue to promote its values in a way that is relevant to modern audiences.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 242 x 162 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785313806