Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

their upperclass English background, possibly neither made sufficient allowance for the less deferential Australian way of doing things. Grace described his old friend as a “born tactician, a genial chief, a firm though gentle ruler”. Spofforth testified to Murdoch’s confidence in his own judgement and gift for inspiring confidence in others and that “he always knew by instinct when to take a bowler off and when to put him on again”. “There were no dissensions on or off the field when he was leader.” “He did not interfere with bowlers much in placing the field.” “Now and again he would make a suggestion and he was a captain who was not above consulting with two or three members of his side.” Personality Murdoch’s personality, although clearly central to his success both as captain and as a major figure within the game, is difficult to pin down after almost one hundred years. Charles Fry was not the easiest of men to please but he was a great admirer of Murdoch and is perhaps the most informative. In Giants of the Game (Ward Lock 1899) he refers to Murdoch as “Genuinely and unaffectedly amusing” with a “ cheerful, well fed voice …A powerful, well-knit figure, as active as a man half his age and every bit as keen … His neat black moustache bristling with vitality: his gait and gestures full of the direct, hard-bitten energy that distinguishes Colonials. Not only in batting but in all else Bill carries a style all his own … He walks, talks, eats, drinks, smokes and wears a hat distinctively. A great cricketer and the best possible pal before, during and after a match.” More obscurely in his Life Worth Living Fry labels Murdoch “The most sanguine dark-complexioned man of my era”. A.J.Webbe considered Murdoch “the fairest man who ever played cricket”. Despite past disagreements, whether playing cricket, hacking their way round a golf course, fishing. shooting or merely indulging in their favourite tipple, champagne, Grace and Murdoch clearly derived immense pleasure from each other’s company. In London County’s inner coterie Grace was known as “Father”, Murdoch “Muvver”, one of the lesser lights “Granny” and another “Babe”. If in their behaviour they sometimes sound like a pair of knockabout comedians and a touch juvenile to modern ears - they are reputed to have jumped into a cab together and put their feet through the floor - it is seldom helpful to judge past behaviour and customs by contemporary standards. It is not hard to think of aspects of modern life likely to seem incomprehensible if not downright stupid to men such as Murdoch and Grace. There can be no doubt that Murdoch enjoyed eating and drinking, whether to excess might depend on one’s individual viewpoint. Sir Home Gordon, as ever a master of circumlocution, considered Murdoch “did not exercise sufficient control of his propensities”. Billy Newham, a close friend and kindred spirit who played alongside Murdoch with Sussex put it more succinctly - “A mighty man at shifting liquor”. According to Newham, on one occasion at Old Trafford Murdoch and four others (one by inference Newham himself) disposed of four magnums of champagne at dinner. Next day Murdoch “played superbly” despite a certain initial unsteadiness on his journey to the wicket. (The actual match is difficult to pinpoint. Murdoch often did well at Old Trafford.) On the other hand, he could abstain when he thought it necessary. Several writers refer to Murdoch’s long established habit during a match of lunching outside the pavilion on nothing but a sandwich and a glass of water. Other Sports In his youth Murdoch played football for one of the premier New South Wales clubs Wallaroo. He does not seem to have taken his golf very seriously but among other outdoor pursuits he was a skilled fisherman and a noted shot (better before lunch according to Fry). As well as representing New South 9