Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

side from appearing in any matches under their control. Murdoch announced his retirement. Had Murdoch’s departure from the game been permanent, his 97 against Victoria would have been an appropriate swan song. Seemingly no longer worried by picnics and champagne, the Australasian described the innings as “masterly”. It included 8 fours and a 4th wicket partnership of 111 with R.J.Pope. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct St Total Total 117. AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, Adelaide Oval, December 12, 13, 15, 16 (England won by eight wickets) * c J.Hunter b R.Peel 5 243 369 b R.Peel 7 191 67-2 118. New South Wales v Victoria, Melbourne, December 26, 27, 29, 30 (Victoria won by an innings and five runs) * c J.M.Blackham b G.E.Palmer 97 403 482 b W.Bruce 11 74 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Test matches 1 2 0 12 5 6.00 - - - - Inter-state match 1 2 0 108 97 54.00 - 1 - - Season 2 4 0 120 97 30.00 - 1 - - Career 118 202 24 5755 321 32.33 8 22 100 18 1889/90 Lured from retirement, presumably by the prospect of a fifth tour of England, Murdoch led his side to a creditable victory over South Australia in the inaugural match between the two states despite having rather the worst of the wicket. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct St Total Total 119. New South Wales v South Australia, Sydney, February 14, 15, (17), 18 (New South Wales won by nine wickets) * c J.H.Tardif b A.Jarvis 13 240 155 1 did not bat - 66-1 148 1 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Inter-state match 1 1 0 13 13 13.00 - - 2 - Season 1 1 0 13 13 13.00 - - 2 - Career 119 203 24 5768 321 32.22 8 22 102 18 1890 – Australians in England Before departure Murdoch expressed hopes of winning the rubber but with a record in all matches of won 13, lost 16 and nine drawn and a Test series lost two-nil with one drawn, the 1890 tour was not a success. The absence of Australia’s leading all rounder George Giffen and a wet summer did not help but, although it was by all accounts a happy tour and Murdoch was generally considered to have handled a moderate side well, for the first time under his captaincy there were rumours of undisciplined behaviour from one or two individuals. He had a superb pair of bowlers in Turner and Ferris but the support bowling was no more than adequate and too many batsmen failed to live up to their reputations. Apart from Murdoch, only Harry Trott reached three figures. Even if, after almost five years out of the game, the captain was not quite the same batsman, he still topped the averages and scored more runs than anyone else. Wisden considered he was not as good as he used to be on rain affected wickets but his innings of 74 against a strong North of England attack was judged worthy of 24