Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

Wales in inter-state shooting competitions he took part in contests in various other locations including at least one in Monte Carlo. Indoors he excelled at billiards. Death in Melbourne Complete settlement of John Watson’s estate proved to be long drawn out and complicated business, a bonanza for the lawyers. In connection with the final disposition the Murdochs returned to Australia in 1911 which gave William a chance to see something of the Australia v South Africa Test series. At Melbourne on February 18th, the Saturday of the Fourth Test Match, he watched the pre-lunch session among old friends including Test cricketers C.E.McLeod and T.P.Horan. Early in the day he forecast that South Africa would lose five wickets before lunch and by the interval the tourists were indeed five down. This upset him - “I’ll never make another prophecy again - I’ve brought bad luck on these boys”. After lunch with the committee, while talking to a Major Morkam, he suddenly held his head and on being asked what the trouble was replied “Neuralgia I think. I have a pain here.” and fell forward across a table. He was attended by three doctors in the pavilion and then taken to Moores Hospital but he did not regain consciousness and died around 5pm. The cause was given as arteriosclerosis and cerebral haemorrhage. Flags at the MCG were lowered to half-mast during the remainder of the day’s play. Few in the world of cricket can have had so many friends and been so widely mourned. In his obituary, Wisden took the view that with his “fine physique and splendid constitution, he ought to have lived to a greater age”. This is obviously true but according to all available evidence, Billy Murdoch had an enjoyable life and champagne, picnics parties and, insufficiently controlled propensities notwithstanding, he also gave a great deal of pleasure to a lot of people. His widow had the body embalmed and returned to England. Following a service held at St Stephen’s, in Talbot Road, Westbourne Park, West London (the final family home was in Bayswater) the burial was in Kensal Green cemetery. There were two sons and three daughters. One son was in the unbeaten Repton XI of 1906, finishing second in the batting averages to J.N.Crawford and playing alongside two other future cricketers of note, H.S.Altham and W.T.Greswell. W.J.Seton in Wisden described him as “worthy of his father”. 10