John Stanley James changed his name to Dr Stanley James, then to Julian Thomas, and wrote under the pseudonym of The Vagabond.
Being a well-connected man-about-town by this time, Julian Thomas, to use his present avatar, had soon befriended Lillywhite and had been present at Melbourne Cricket Ground along with thousands of onlookers on the historic first day of the match when the Sydney batting ace, Charles Bannerman, had put the bowling of the tourists to the sword to the tune of 165 before being compelled to retire hurt when a delivery from Yorkshireman George Ulyett had damaged his hand.
In conversation at the White Hart of Melbourne later, Thomas had enquired whether, in Lillywhite’s estimation, a reciprocal visit by a representative Australian team to England would generate the same level of interest in the Home Country. This was a new concept to Lillywhite, and one never before been thought of. Keeping the experience of the tour of the team of indigenous Australian cricketers with which Charles Lawrence had visited England in 1868 playing only “minor” games in mind, Lillywhite had not been very sure.
Thomas was quick to point out that he did not have exhibition matches in England in mind, but was asking whether a tour by a representative Australian team to England, playing against the major English counties and clubs, against the Gentlemen and the Players, perhaps even a representative England team on equal terms, could be arranged. Lillywhite’s response to this query by Thomas is, very regretfully, lost to posterity.
Sitting close by had been John Conway, a noted Melbourne all-rounder and cricket entrepreneur. One remark by Thomas had caught his ear. “There’d be plenty of money in it,” Thomas had remarked to Lillywhite.
It was as if a seasoned war horse had heard the sound of a bugle in the heat of the battle. Hearing the magic mantra of “money,” Conway had been unable to restrain himself and had quickly joined in the conversation, eager to discuss the issue. The persuasive tongue of Conway had then convinced Lillywhite about the financial possibilities of such a venture to such an extent that, before the Englishmen had left Melbourne, Lillywhite had promised to probe the possibility once he was back in England, promising to stay in touch meanwhile.
The events that followed in quick succession and some details of the tour of England in 1878 by the first fairly representative Australian team have already been chronicled in these pages. John Lazenby has given a comprehensive account of the tour in his book The Strangers Who Came Home. Suffice it, then, to state that the chance remark made in a private conversation between two men in a smoky and ill-lit Melbourne bistro called the White Hart was to lead to one of the most famous cricketing rivalries of all time, culminating in the aura and legend of the Ashes, the attendant passion surviving the passage of time.
Having done his bit for the establishment and development of cricketing ties between England and Australia,Thomas turned his attention to the fulfilment of his journalistic dreams. His journalistic career began to blossom in an unprecedented manner, his undercover work as The Vagabond being read avidly and being appreciated by the cognoscenti. His keen observations, practical judgements and meaningful suggestions for reforms were to make his offerings, published as The Vagabond Papers, very popular and eagerly awaited, and by degree, his journalistic avatar became quite a cult figure, as mysterious as it was thought-provoking.
Full story
Being a well-connected man-about-town by this time, Julian Thomas, to use his present avatar, had soon befriended Lillywhite and had been present at Melbourne Cricket Ground along with thousands of onlookers on the historic first day of the match when the Sydney batting ace, Charles Bannerman, had put the bowling of the tourists to the sword to the tune of 165 before being compelled to retire hurt when a delivery from Yorkshireman George Ulyett had damaged his hand.
In conversation at the White Hart of Melbourne later, Thomas had enquired whether, in Lillywhite’s estimation, a reciprocal visit by a representative Australian team to England would generate the same level of interest in the Home Country. This was a new concept to Lillywhite, and one never before been thought of. Keeping the experience of the tour of the team of indigenous Australian cricketers with which Charles Lawrence had visited England in 1868 playing only “minor” games in mind, Lillywhite had not been very sure.
Thomas was quick to point out that he did not have exhibition matches in England in mind, but was asking whether a tour by a representative Australian team to England, playing against the major English counties and clubs, against the Gentlemen and the Players, perhaps even a representative England team on equal terms, could be arranged. Lillywhite’s response to this query by Thomas is, very regretfully, lost to posterity.
Sitting close by had been John Conway, a noted Melbourne all-rounder and cricket entrepreneur. One remark by Thomas had caught his ear. “There’d be plenty of money in it,” Thomas had remarked to Lillywhite.
It was as if a seasoned war horse had heard the sound of a bugle in the heat of the battle. Hearing the magic mantra of “money,” Conway had been unable to restrain himself and had quickly joined in the conversation, eager to discuss the issue. The persuasive tongue of Conway had then convinced Lillywhite about the financial possibilities of such a venture to such an extent that, before the Englishmen had left Melbourne, Lillywhite had promised to probe the possibility once he was back in England, promising to stay in touch meanwhile.
The events that followed in quick succession and some details of the tour of England in 1878 by the first fairly representative Australian team have already been chronicled in these pages. John Lazenby has given a comprehensive account of the tour in his book The Strangers Who Came Home. Suffice it, then, to state that the chance remark made in a private conversation between two men in a smoky and ill-lit Melbourne bistro called the White Hart was to lead to one of the most famous cricketing rivalries of all time, culminating in the aura and legend of the Ashes, the attendant passion surviving the passage of time.
Having done his bit for the establishment and development of cricketing ties between England and Australia,Thomas turned his attention to the fulfilment of his journalistic dreams. His journalistic career began to blossom in an unprecedented manner, his undercover work as The Vagabond being read avidly and being appreciated by the cognoscenti. His keen observations, practical judgements and meaningful suggestions for reforms were to make his offerings, published as The Vagabond Papers, very popular and eagerly awaited, and by degree, his journalistic avatar became quite a cult figure, as mysterious as it was thought-provoking.
Full story