Famous Cricketers No 67 - Ivo Bligh

1878 Following two good innings in the early trial matches at Cambridge, Bligh gained a place in the Eleven and never lost it. He was therefore a member of the Cambridge side at Lord’s, when the Light Blues won by 238 runs and were considered the best eleven ever to represent the University. In the vacation, when Cambridge opposed the first Australian touring side, Bligh was again a member of the winning University team. He returned to the Kent side for July and August. Wisden commented: “The Hon Ivo Bligh in both making and saving runs for Kent, proved his right by merit to a place in the team, especially as he is young, and, as some people have it, ‘looks like training on to best form’.” 1878, it will be recalled, was the one season when the title of Champion County was undecided. No fewer than five of the ten principal counties won half their fixtures, including Kent, who won six from twelve; however they lost four, as against Middlesex who were undefeated (though playing only six games) and Nottinghamshire who lost three out of 14. Wisden puts Kent’s position in a rather quaint manner: “Looking back only a few years, when Kent was gloomily travelling on one of the backmost seats of the Cricketing Counties’ coach, it is a surprise and a pleasure to find the old County now cheeringly occupying a front rank position among the Counties ...” A glance at the statistics below shows that Bligh took part in five of Kent’s inter-county victories. His highest innings was against Surrey, his 60 being described as “a brilliant display of cricket”. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 3. Cambridge University v M.C.C., Fenner’s, May 16, 17 (Cambridge University won by an innings and 33 runs) c and b A.Shaw 3 154 69 52 4. Cambridge University v Yorkshire, Fenner’s, May 20, 21, 22 (Cambridge University won by ten wickets) b T.Emmett 0 192 105 did not bat - 14-0 100 5. Cambridge University v Gentlemen of England, Fenner’s, May 27, 28, 29 (Cambridge University won by an innings and 96 runs) b D.Buchanan 37 256 100 60 6. Cambridge University v Surrey, Kennington Oval, June 13, 14 (Cambridge University won by an innings and 112 runs) c H.Jupp b F.Johnson 3 256 101 43 7. Kent v Derbyshire, Derby, June 17, 18, 19 (Kent won by 82 runs) c A.Smith b W.Hickton 8 111 95 1 run out 2 228 162 1 8. Kent v Lancashire, Old Trafford, June 20, 21 (Lancashire won by nine wickets) c sub b A.Appleby 26 127 179 c W.McIntyre b R.G.Barlow 9 63 12-1 9. Cambridge University v M.C.C., Lord’s, June 24, 25 (Cambridge University won by 106 runs) c T.Mycroft b A.Rylott 6 133 80 c G.H.Longman b G.G.Hearne 4 173 120 10. Cambridge University v Oxford University, Lord’s, July 1, 2 (Cambridge University won by 238 runs) c A.P.Wickham b R.L.Knight 14 168 127 not out 24 229 32 1 11. Kent v Sussex, Tunbridge Wells, July 15, 16 (Kent won by an innings and 36 runs) c H.Phillips b R.Fillery 4 243 149 58 12. Kent v Hampshire, Tunbridge Wells, July 18, 19 (Kent won by an innings and 181 runs) c sub b W.C.Wheeler 39 405 108 116 3 13. Cambridge University v Australians, Lord’s, July 22, 23 (Cambridge University won by an innings and 72 runs) c C.Bannerman b H.F.Boyle 21 285 111 102 8