influence and popularity of the captain, Arthur Gilligan, would assist this process. However, during the tour, the Australian secret service were informed by the London authorities that Gilligan and Frederick Toone were members of the British Fascists. Although the organisation never achieved the same level of influence in Britain as the British Union of Fascists, which formed in 1932, the British Fascists were popular for a short time during the mid-1920s. The primary focus of the organisation was to oppose communism, but MI5 considered its threat serious enough to warrant placing leading members under surveillance. In addition, the British Foreign Office were aware that the British Fascists had established some links overseas. Moore suggests that it is possible that Gilligan and Toone used the tour as an opportunity to establish links in Australia. The team visited many parts of Australia and attended many social events which presented an opportunity to discuss politics. Shortly after the tour's conclusion, Australia's Commonwealth Investigative Branch uncovered evidence that the British Fascists had established chapters in several Australian cities, although they did not know how this had happened. Moore believes that "it may be totally coincidental that the Australian chapter of the British Fascists was established so soon after the MCC tour", but is more likely that Gilligan and Toone brought Fascist literature to Australia for distribution. However, Moore writes that "the British Fascists' Australian operations were small beer indeed" and of little consequence. Notes References Barclay's World of Cricket - 2nd Edition, 1980, Collins Publishers, Moore, Andrew (May 1991). The 'Fascist' cricket tour of 1924–25. Sporting Traditions (Melbourne: Australian Society for Sports History Publications) 7 (2): 164–174. McKinstry, Leo (2011). Jack Hobbs: England's Greatest Cricketer. London: Yellow Jersey Press. External links Wisden obituary English cricketers English cricket administrators Cricket managers Cricket players and officials awarded knighthoods English rugby union players Knights Bachelor Leicester Tigers players 1930 deaths 1868 births English fascists Secretaries of Yorkshire County Cricket Club