Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

67. Australians v Somerset, Taunton, August 21, 22 (Australians won by an innings and 19 runs) *† run out 17 245 96 - 1 130 - 2 68. AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, Kennington Oval, August 28, 29 (Australia won by 7 runs) * b E.Peate 13 63 101 run out 29 122 77 1 69. Australians v United All England Eleven, Higher Ground, Tunbridge Wells, August 31, September (1), 2 (Match drawn) * st E.W. Pooley b J.T.Parnham17 182 126 1 b J.T.Parnham 0 49 70. Australians v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, September 4, 5, 6 (Australians won by 184 runs) * b W.S.Wright 72 131 111 1 c W.Barnes b F.Morley 26 212 48 1 71. Australians v I Zingari, Scarborough, September 7, 8, 9 (Match drawn) * b W.F.Forbes 0 153 279 1 b A.H.Evans 53 423-6 72. Australians v A.Shaw’s XI, Recreation Ground, Holbeck, September 11, 12 (Australians won by 89 runs) * c G.Ulyett b W.E.Midwinter 3 79 79 b T.Emmett 5 126 37 1 73. Australians v North of England, Old Trafford, September 14, 15, 16 (North of England won by ten wickets) * b E.Peate 1 110 245 lbw b E.Peate 33 162 30-0 74. Australians v A.Shaw’s XI, Kennington Oval, September 18, (19), 20 (Match drawn) * st R.Pilling b E.Peate 14 87 - - - - 129 1 9 2 22 1 W.Bates c T.W.Garrett 190-6 1 75. Australians v Eleven of England, St George’s Road Ground, Harrogate, September 23, 25, 26 (Australians won by four wickets) * b E.Peate 15 134 72 1 lbw b E.Peate 19 105-6 165 2 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Test matches 1 2 0 42 29 21.00 - - 1 - Other matches 31 53 5 1540 286* 32.08 2 7 30 3 Tour 32 55 5 1582 286* 31.64 2 7 31 3 Career 75 130 16 3377 321 29.62 4 12 68 13 Bowling O M R W BB Ave Tour (4 ball) 16 3 47 1 1-22 47.00 Career (4 ball) 48 11 103 3 1-22 34.33 1882/83 The English team led by the Hon. Ivo Bligh achieved its primary objective by beating Murdoch’s tourists two-one and thus theoretically regaining the Ashes but defeat in a fourth match at the hands of a team chosen from the whole of Australia, rather complicated matters. Murdoch tried, unsuccessfully, to arrange a decider. Apart from in the first match with Victoria when he shared century second wicket partnerships with A.C.Bannerman in each innings, Murdoch had a moderate season with the bat. The Australasian was highly critical asserting that the captain “seemed to prefer shooting, picnics and social parties” and concluding “Picnics and champagne are not conducive to good cricket”. In the light of his excellent captaincy and his form in the following season, the criticism hardly seems justified. When necessary, Murdoch could be as stubborn as Bannerman. In the Second Test Match he came in with the score at 56-1 and was still there with 19* when the last wicket fell at 114 having batted for around 150 minutes. England’s innings victory was the first in Test Match history. In the Third Test Match Murdoch objected to the spikes in Richard Barlow’s boots. Bligh, not unlike Murdoch as a diplomat, agreed to have them changed but on the final day, on a “treacherous” wicket, Barlow, minus the offending spikes, took 7-40. It was suggested that 19