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On December 7, 1963 Ian Meckiff was 'Thrown Out' of the game.
One over and it was enough for umpire Col Egar.
This thread is not about that day or that over but about what happened in the second week of that December.
Bradman, Benaud, Meckiff and even a reference to John Kennedy!
One over and it was enough for umpire Col Egar.
This thread is not about that day or that over but about what happened in the second week of that December.
Bradman, Benaud, Meckiff and even a reference to John Kennedy!
Dec 5, 1963.
Evening before the First Test at Lennon’s Hotel.
Ian Meckiff goes off for a drink with Richie Benaud and Bob Simpson. Tennis star Frank Sedgman and umpire Col Egar are present there.
“How are ya, chucker?”,says Eagar.
“Where’s your seeing-eye dog?”,Meckiff responds
Evening before the First Test at Lennon’s Hotel.
Ian Meckiff goes off for a drink with Richie Benaud and Bob Simpson. Tennis star Frank Sedgman and umpire Col Egar are present there.
“How are ya, chucker?”,says Eagar.
“Where’s your seeing-eye dog?”,Meckiff responds
Eagar has a gift for Meckiff.
The trophy they had won at Adelaide Bowls Club in January.
Meckiff offers him two packets of cigarette from the ration Australians are given before each Test.
Egar: “It’s great to see you back. Good luck!”
The trophy they had won at Adelaide Bowls Club in January.
Meckiff offers him two packets of cigarette from the ration Australians are given before each Test.
Egar: “It’s great to see you back. Good luck!”
The Test begins the next day and after Australia score 435, Meckiff gets a chance to bowl on December 7th.
One over. That’s it. No-balled out of the attack by umpire Egar.
At tea Bradman comes in and puts an arm around the fast bowler’s shoulders.
One over. That’s it. No-balled out of the attack by umpire Egar.
At tea Bradman comes in and puts an arm around the fast bowler’s shoulders.
Bradman: “When all this has quietened down a bit, I’d like a word with you.”
Close of play:
A group of people scoop Meckiff on their shoulders and take him to the pavilion gate. And they still continue to boo the umpires.
Close of play:
A group of people scoop Meckiff on their shoulders and take him to the pavilion gate. And they still continue to boo the umpires.
Egar enters the Australia dressing-room.
“ I’m sticking around. Not game to walk through the grandstand!”
Later that evening, Meckiff and Egar find themselves together in the bar.
Meckiff breaks the silence: “Have you got a cigarette for me?”
“ I’m sticking around. Not game to walk through the grandstand!”
Later that evening, Meckiff and Egar find themselves together in the bar.
Meckiff breaks the silence: “Have you got a cigarette for me?”
Egar: “I have still got the two packets you gave me.”
And then adds: “I’m sorry this had to happen. The second most upset person in the world is me.”
They smile at each other and leave the bar.
And then adds: “I’m sorry this had to happen. The second most upset person in the world is me.”
They smile at each other and leave the bar.
Sunday, December 8.
Jack Ryder meets Meckiff.
He clearly tells Meckiff that he has three choices:
a>Retire immediately.
b>Continue playing home Shield games with Victorian umpires officiating.
c>Take a fortnight and think it over.
Jack Ryder meets Meckiff.
He clearly tells Meckiff that he has three choices:
a>Retire immediately.
b>Continue playing home Shield games with Victorian umpires officiating.
c>Take a fortnight and think it over.
Then the meeting with Bradman.
“Probably the best man-to-man I’ve ever had.”
Bradman does not give him the choices.
He says there is only one thing he can do: retire immediately.
Ted Dexter welcomes the decision.
Doug Ring and Ian Johnson takes Meckiff’s side.
“Probably the best man-to-man I’ve ever had.”
Bradman does not give him the choices.
He says there is only one thing he can do: retire immediately.
Ted Dexter welcomes the decision.
Doug Ring and Ian Johnson takes Meckiff’s side.
President Kennedy had been assassinated two weeks ago. Parallels are freely drawn, and one anonymous caller tells the police that Egar would get ‘the Kennedy treatment’.
Egar gets protection. And the umpires are to be placed under armed guard during the second Test at Melbourne.
Egar gets protection. And the umpires are to be placed under armed guard during the second Test at Melbourne.
Over the next few days,several conspiracy theories surface.
Bradman’s presence in Australia’s dressing room at tea on that fateful day arouses suspicion. Then there is RS Whitington with his theory which he is to include in his tour book ‘Bradman,Beanud and Goddard’s Cinderellas’
Bradman’s presence in Australia’s dressing room at tea on that fateful day arouses suspicion. Then there is RS Whitington with his theory which he is to include in his tour book ‘Bradman,Beanud and Goddard’s Cinderellas’
“I do believe Benaud knew Meckiff will be called. And I believe that Meckiff strongly suspected he would be. Benaud bowled Meckiff to the end which would see Eagar at square-leg. Egar had travelled part of the way from Adelaide to Brisbane with Bradman."
"Benaud knew Bradman’s views on Meckiff’s action, Benaud as well as Bradman had watched the Geoff Griffin affair in England in 1960…..Benaud had defended Griffin. But he must have realised that he would have no chance to defend Meckiff….”
Not everyone agrees to this. Umpire Rowan says that it was he who decided which end the umpires stationed.
None of Benaud’s teammates think that his behaviour that day was of someone who knew in advance the course of events.
None of Benaud’s teammates think that his behaviour that day was of someone who knew in advance the course of events.
Beanud defends himself.
“Bradman coming down at tea is usual and our conversation was ordinary. I didn’t have the feeling that Egar’s calling was premeditated.”
“Bradman coming down at tea is usual and our conversation was ordinary. I didn’t have the feeling that Egar’s calling was premeditated.”
One of Whitington’s observations, though, is interesting. English umpires had called Griffin from a position forward of square leg. Egar stood at the conventional position and seemed to pass judgment almost without reference to the actual delivery action.
The debates have never stopped. After all these years still there are two camps.
Meckiff was a lovely person, much liked. And, perhaps, some people allowed this to cloud their judgment.
Meckiff was a lovely person, much liked. And, perhaps, some people allowed this to cloud their judgment.
By the end of the second week of December, all that remains is Meckiff’s word.
Sydney’s Daily Mirror signs him up for a series of ghosted articles.
He needs the money and there is no way he can say ‘no’ to such an offer.
Sydney’s Daily Mirror signs him up for a series of ghosted articles.
He needs the money and there is no way he can say ‘no’ to such an offer.
In the series appearing under his name, he says the calling ‘hit him like a dagger in the back’ but ‘Egar is a fair and just man who acted according to his convictions'
“In the cold hard light of everything, when it is looked at realistically, I must now concede I was a chucker”
“In the cold hard light of everything, when it is looked at realistically, I must now concede I was a chucker”
Two years later, Bob Simpson writes ‘Captain’s Story’. In that he includes the Meckiff episode and calls him ‘a knowing cheat’.
Meckiff raises objection.
Meckiff raises objection.
On August 21 1971, Simpson issues an apology: “I, Bob Simpson, being the author and writer of ‘Captain’s Story’, hereby apologise for any reflection which may appear by any writings to have cast upon your character, reputation or integrity as a sportsman and gentleman."
Costs are awarded against the publisher Stanley Paul.
The man at the other end gets very little out of it. But that isn't important to him. He only wanted an apology.
When the book is reprinted a few years later, the offending chapter is excluded.
The man at the other end gets very little out of it. But that isn't important to him. He only wanted an apology.
When the book is reprinted a few years later, the offending chapter is excluded.
