The Big Six Dispute was a highly controversial dispute involving six of the biggest names in Australian cricket at that time. Warwick Armstrong, Clem Hill, Hanson Carter, Tobby Cotter, Victor Trumper and Vernon Ransford were part of the dispute which resulted due to a confrontation between the players and the team administrators. The arguments were part of a series of disputes that started back in 1905 after the establishment of the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket.
The players were arguing that they, as a part of the entire system, had a right to choose the Australian cricket team touring managers. These managers were elected to administer the team that travelled to overseas tours. This was just the topmost crust of the cake. What lied deeper was related to a power struggle. This power struggle was over who reaped the cash revenues of the overseas tours. While the players were fully backed up by the South Australian Cricket Association, they had the members of the Melbourne Cricket Club in their opposition.
The players accused the board of being oppressive and unjust. They also raised surplus funds to send an independent team to England, which included the Big Six players. Initially, the boycott was supported by public opinion and the Board was induced to re-evaluate themselves. However soon the times changed and the Board was able to harvest full control of the generated revenues. The Board was supported by Queensland that helped them rope in rights for appointments for all future endeavors. This arrangement was accepted at first but only until the players’ next rebellion in 1970s. After the second rebellion in the 70’s the World Series Cricket was established.
The Ashes tour of 1911-12 was set against the backdrop of the prevailing hostility of the Board and the players. The Board wanted to appoint their own team manager as against to the one chosen by the players. The Big Six players were in favor of Frank Laver and threatened to withdraw from the series if their demands were not met. The then skipper of the team, Clem Hill was also the member of the Big Six and sent a telegram to Peter McAlister, one of the fellow selectors. He wanted to include all-rounder Charlie Macartney into the team but the Board was against the inclusion of the New South Wales player. After an intense meeting of the Board, the members rejected the players’ appeal to select a team manager and two weeks later appointed George Crouch at the talked about position.
Just before the fourth test, the board selection committee met on 3rd February, 1912 to decide the team. In the meeting, McAlister and Hill met and exchanged sharp, criticizing remarks. After some heated words were exchanged, Hill lost his cool and struck McAlister with a blow on his face. The tussle resulted into a tough fight. As a result, Hill put down his papers and resigned in front of all the members present there. The Board accepted his resignation the same evening. As a result of these developments, the rest of the Big Six players announced their unavailability for the series. The team left for the test series amiss the six players who had boycotted the match. The Australians won only eight games against losing nine ones and returned to Australia dejected at the failure of the series.