Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Inter-state matches 2 4 0 205 158 51.25 1 - 3 1 Other matches 2 2 1 362 279* 362.00 1 1 1 - Season 4 6 1 567 279* 113.40 2 1 4 1 Career 85 148 19 4254 321 32.97 6 15 78 14 1884 - Australians in England With one of the thirteen players, W.H.Cooper, never fully fit, once again Murdoch missed only one match – against Yorkshire at Bradford owing to an injured finger. Palpably out of touch against W.G.Grace in the opening fixture, he found no sort of form until the MCC match at Lord’s when, on a deteriorating wicket, he was top scorer with 58* in the second innings. More typical Murdoch innings were 64 and a partnership of 104 with George Giffen (113) against Lancashire and 132 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s. In an innings described by Wisden as “magnificent” he batted for approximately four and a half hours, hit 20 fours and shared a seventh wicket partnership of 103 with G.E.Palmer (68*). His 211 (24 fours) against England at The Oval, the first double hundred in a Test Match cemented Murdoch’s position as one of the game’s great batsmen. He batted just over eight hours in oppressively hot conditions and shared partnerships of 143 with P.S.McDonnell (103) and 207 with H.J.H.Scott (102). He gave two hard chances, to Lyttelton behind the wicket at 46 and to Barlow at third man at 171, both off Ulyett This was the first time a side had totalled more than 500.in a Test Match. Although by losing to England at Lord’s Murdoch’s side lost the rubber, they had rather the best of both drawn games and could consider themselves unlucky. In all first-class matches they won sixteen (seven by an innings), drew eight and lost seven (three by an innings). In the second match against the Gentlemen, played at The Oval, Murdoch surprised the pundits by giving Spofforth six slips as well as Blackham standing back. As in the two previous tours, he topped the batting averages. With no regular reserve wicket-keeper, Murdoch had to deputize for Blackham in a complete match on three occasions. He caught four and stumped four but allowed 101 byes. In the Lord’s Test Match, when Grace, fielding point, cut his finger Murdoch came on as substitute and took a good catch to dismiss future Australian captain Henry ‘Tup’ Scott. Despite such sporting gestures, Murdoch again proved himself willing to tread on toes in the interest of his team. Before the Gentlemen of England game at Lord’s he objected to one of the umpires Walter Price who, he felt, had shown undue favour to Grace in the MCC fixture. John West was brought in as a replacement. There were the usual wrangles about gate money and payments to English professionals. A Gentlemen of Philadelphia team was touring at the same time and when it was pointed out (not entirely accurately) that there were no admission charges to their matches Murdoch was alleged to have replied that the Americans “apparently know how much it is worth to see them play”. Murdoch also upset the (then) notoriously volatile Oval crowd at the Players of England match by insisting on adjourning for lunch when his side needed only 11 to win. After lunch police had to clear the ground before the match could proceed. As no admission was being charged after lunch it is not easy to see what the complaint was. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct St Total Total 86. Australians v Lord Sheffield’s XI, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, May 12, 13 (Australians won by an innings and 6 runs) * b W.G.Grace 9 212 86 120 1 87. Australians v Oxford University, Christ Church Ground, Oxford, May 15, 16, 17 (Oxford University won by seven wickets) * c B.E.Nicholls b H.O.Whitby 11 148 209 b E.W.Bastard 0 168 110-3 88. Australians v Surrey, Kennington Oval, May 19, 20 (Australians won by eight wickets) * b E.Barratt 0 195 97 1 did not bat - 48-2 144 2 21