 The Surrey committee initially attempted to keep the dispute private , but Crawford sent copies of the letters to the newspapers , explaining in a letter that he wished to end speculation about his absence from the Surrey team . Burns notes that this " [ generated ] a strong response from the public , mainly unsympathetic to the young amateur " in the letters pages of many newspapers . Many commentators felt that the argument could have been resolved easily had either side made concessions . Green comments that the committee probably either expected Crawford to back down , or were happy to sacrifice him to establish their authority . Another of the players involved , Rushby , left Surrey at the end of the season to play league cricket , but later returned to the team . Crawford 's father made a further attempt to end the dispute between Surrey and his son in 1910 , asking the committee to reverse their decision . Wisden reported that Alverstone declined on the grounds that it would suggest a lack of confidence in the committee , but that if Crawford " came forward in a sportsmanlike way [ Alverstone ] would be proud to give his personal support to the step proposed . This of course meant that an apology was expected . " 
