John Arlott - The Cambridge Union Debate

The Cambridge Union Debate

Following the cancellation of the 1968 England tour by the South African government, the Cambridge Union decided to hold a debate on the motion "That politics should not intrude on sporting contacts". Former England captain Ted Dexter was invited to propose the motion, seconded by veteran all round sportsman Wilf Wooller who had skippered Glamorgan to their first county championship in 1948. Both of these ex-players were friends of Arlott. Opposing the motion were the incumbent minister for sport, Dennis Howell, seconded by John Arlott.

Arlott spoke passionately against the motion stating that "It is political commitment and political belief that can make a man think that his opponent's views are so obnoxious that he will abstain from playing any game with him as a protest against what the other man believes. Any man's political commitment, if it is deep enough, is his very personal philosophy and it governs his whole way of life, it governs his belief, and it certainly governs the people with whom he is prepared to mix." The motion was duly defeated by 334 votes to 160. Despite their opposing positions over the issue, Arlott was drinking with Wooller in the Cambridge Union Bar shortly after the debate had finished.

Arlott maintained his strong views on the issue when two years later he came to an unprecedented agreement with the BBC, that he would be excused from commentating on the upcoming Test series against South Africa in England without prejudicing his future commentary role on Test matches against othe touring teams during subsequent years. However, the British government subsequently cancelled the tour over potential public order concerns at each Test venue. A Rest of the World side, captained by Gary Sobers and including 5 of the South African team, played a 5 match 'Test' series instead and Arlott happily rejoined the TMS commentary team to cover those matches.