James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

further ground for discrediting the fact that Australia was about to introduce ~ a new era into the history of the game which the author of “Tom Brown‘s School Days " had not inaptly described as the prerogative Of Englishmen- Our countrymen had already become fruniliarised to some extent with Colonial players, and Southerton’s letters had made them curious to witness the prowess ofrnen like Charles Bannerman, wholiad been called the "Grace ” of Australia : Kendall. whose howling the Surrey veteran asserted to be quite as good as that ofAlfrcd Shaw; of Allan, whose nickname, ” the bowler ofacciitubv,” hall not failcrl to reach us; of Spoilorth, yclept the “ Demon Bowler; ” ofBlacl<~ ham, sairl to be as agile as Pooley- behind the sticks; ofEvans, “ the best all- rnuntl layer in the Colonics," and of others. The forni shown b3' Midwinter in Eng i cricket during the previous summer, had proved of what sterling stufi Ans . ans were made, and when the records oftlie farewell toiii‘ of D- Gregory and his Elei‘en reached England—when it was shown that out of twenty-one matches seventeen hail been won, and only one lost—it bcgzin to dawn on Englisli nla_ rs that there might he more work liefoi'e them than they had contemplated, and that in Gregory‘s team they would have “The stem jo)’ that warriors feel In foemeii worthy oftheir steel." But first of all a feiv words by way of introducing the different members of the party. . David William Gregory (Amateur), Captnin, is a native ot \Voollc(zong, Neiv South “Wales, is 5ft. iiin. in height, and 31 years of age, is in civil Service of Sydney. Francis Ernest Allan (Amateur), born in Victoria, is Lift. iin. in height, and 28 years of age. Is in Land Survey at Saleni, in Gipp's Land. Georgi: Henry Bailey (Amateur). Born at Ceyloii, but educated in England. Heiglit, 5ft, iiin., age 24. Is in Commercial Bank of Van Dieman's Land, Launccstmi. . Charles Bannerman (Professional). Boin in Kent at \Voolwich. Plays f0i' New Soutli “Wales. Height 5ft. 8in., age 26. Professional Cricketer. Alexander Chambers Bannerman (Professional). Born in Australia. Height, 5ft. 4in., age 21. In Government Printing Office, at Sydney. J. McCarthy Blackliam (Amateur). Boni at Melbonme. Height, 5ft. 9in., age 24. Is in Colonial Bank, Melbourne. Thomas \Villiam Garrett (Amateur). Born in Neiv South \Vales. Height, 5ft. xiin., age 22. Engagerl in Supreme Court at Sydney. Thomas Horn]! (Amateur). Born at Victoria. Height, 5ft. 9m, fine 23, In the Audit Ofiice. Melbourne. ” Henry' Frederic]: Boyle (Amateur). Born at Sydney. Height 6ft.,agc 28. In the office of Mines, at Melboume. \Villiam Lloyd Murdoch BOl‘l) in Nciv South W'alcs. Height, 5ft. loin, age 33. A Solicitoi‘ in Sydney. Fredericlt Robert Spoflbrtli. Born in New South \Vales. Height, 6ft. I‘lifl-i age 22. In the Bani: of New South Wales. ' Some disappointment was felt in English circles when it was learned that Evansv of NC“! Soutli '\Vales, whom the Australians themselves acknowledged to be their best all-round TCPYCSCn|fl(l\‘C, would not accompan)' the team, and until they Elayed their first matcli at Nottingham, it was not even known that Kendall, t e sloiv left~haiid bowler, of whom Lillywhite’s Eleven harl farmer] so high an opinion, had been left at home. On March 29, 18787 the Twelve, who were under the cumin-and ofD. Gregory. ofNew Soutli \\'alcs, with Mr. , Conway, an old Colonial Cricketer, as their agent and secretary, and ac. compflnic‘i, b): Mr. W._C. Glbbes, left Sydney, and on May 14 they arrived safely at Liverpool, hai'ing travelled across the American continent from San