Editing Gubby Allen (section)

===Selection as captain===
Prior to the 1936 season, Allen was the leading contender to replace Wyatt as England captain; under Wyatt's leadership, the team had lost three successive Test series.<ref>Swanton, pp. 161, 164.</ref> Although still unable to appear regularly,<ref name=S161>Swanton, p. 161.</ref> Allen played 16 first-class matches, his most in a season since 1926; he scored 598 runs at an average of 35.17, and took 81 wickets, his best return in a season.<ref name=fcbatting/><ref name=fcbowling/> When selected to lead one of the teams in a Test trial match, he was effective enough for the selectors to name him as England captain for the series against India.<ref>Swanton, pp. 162–64.</ref> England won the first Test by eight wickets. Allen took five for 35 in his first innings as captain and a further five wickets in the second innings, making this the only Test in which he took ten wickets.<ref name=figures/><ref>Swanton, pp. 165–66.</ref> The selectors at this time set about choosing a captain and team for the MCC tour of Australia in the 1936–37 season.  At least one selector favoured [[Claude Ashton]], who played first-class cricket infrequently; Allen informed the selectors that, were Ashton to be made captain, he would not take part in the tour.<ref name=M114>Marshall, p. 114.</ref> Soon after the first Test, Allen was chosen to captain the Gentlemen against the Players, the only time he did so, and the MCC announced that he would captain the MCC in Australia.<ref>Swanton, p. 167.</ref> Allen believed that Warner was influential in securing his appointment, but that his Australian background was also important given that the tour had to repair tensions left over from 1932 to 1933.<ref name=M114/>

Allen captained England in the remaining two Tests against India. The second game was drawn but England won the third and Allen took seven for 80, his best figures in Test matches.<ref name=figures/><ref>Swanton, pp. 168–69, 172–73.</ref> In the Tests, Allen scored 27 runs in three innings, and took 20 wickets at 16.50.<ref name=tbat/><ref name=tbowl/> His good form for Middlesex continued throughout the season and he performed well against some of the strongest opposition; he topped the county's batting averages and came second in bowling.<ref>Swanton, pp. 172–73.</ref> The MCC team for Australia was chosen in several stages with input from Allen.<ref>Swanton, pp. 167–68.</ref> Larwood was not considered; he had spoken out in the press against Australia and opponents of Bodyline, and like Voce, had not played a Test since the 1932–33 series.<ref>Swanton, pp. 154–55.</ref> The selectors wished to include Voce but Allen at first threatened to resign were he to be included. He met Voce to discuss matters and the latter agreed to sign a statement in which he apologised for the past and in effect promised not to bowl Bodyline. He was therefore named in the touring team.<ref>Swanton, pp. 167–71.</ref>