Career
His undemocratic appointment as vice-captain-cum-treasurer of the Australian cricket team in England in 1909 irrupted latent animus between the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket and its players. An unpopular choice, McAlister was forced to brood his way through the tour after player-appointed manager Frank Laver declined to assist him. Two years later, accordingly, the Board unilaterally repealed the players" informal right to choose their own manager.