James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

57 better than at any period of tlie trip. Judging him solely hy his performances m ngland, Xwould rather have him in an eleven than any cricketer 1 have ever seen, always excepting Mr. \V . G . G race . JOHN MCCARTHY BLACKHAM (Victoria) was horn at Eitzroy, Melbourne, on he 11th of May, 1855. Just as S pofforth has been pro- Bounced b\ a aige majority of English cricketers to be the greatest of universally recognised as tlie greatest or t icket-keepers. During this last tour he was. perhaps, not quite up to Ins standaid of 1880 and 1882, hut one or two nasty accidents that he met with may, in some degree have shaken his nerve. It was only, howei or, when judged by his own high standard that the slight deterioration could he detected. Some of his performances were extraordinary. No one who was present at the Oval will ever forget his ■wicket keeping in the match against the Gentlemen. His batting was just the same as in 1882—nothing to look at hut extremely effective aud nearly always best when most needed. ALEXANDER CHAMBERS BANNERMAN (New South Wales) was horn in Sydney on the 21st of March, 1859, and, like M urdoch , S pofforth , B lackham , and B oyle , has visited England with each of the four Australian teams. His remarkably patient hatting and brilliant fielding at mid-off have caused him to be ranked among the very best of Colonial cricketers. It must he said, however, that last season liis batting and fielding were less certain than during the tour of 1882. HENRY FREDERICK BOYLE (Victoria) was horn at Sydney on tlie 10th of December, 1817, but as a cricketer has always been identified with the colony of Victoria. He is the oldest member of the team, and though still a valuable man, it cannot he said that lie was of as much service as he had been to previous elevens. On the hard, dry wickets of tlie past season his howling was comparatively harmless, and, whereas in 1882 he took 144 wickets and had the best average, his last record only shows 67 wickets, and he was beaten on the average by both S pofforth and P almer . Though he was perhaps not quite so safe a catch as formerly in his favourite position at short mid-on, he still did a lot of brilliant things. • • ' ' v \ l PERCY STANISLAUS M'DONNELL (Victoria) was born in London on the 13th of November, 1860, and is the youngest man on the side. As a cricketer lie has been exclusively identified with Victoria. He came to England with the teams of 1880 and 1882, and is certainly a better cricketer now than at any previous period of his career. Without having lost any of the driving power, which from the fiist made his batting remarkable, he lias gained greatly in judgment the improve­ ment being evident hy his high place on the average list, Dunn 1 he last part of the season his batting was exceptionally good. As a fields­ man he was one of the best in the team, and was usually placed at, slip and long on. GEORGE EUGENE PALMER (Victoria) was born at Albury, New South W aL , on the 22nd of February, 1 8 6 0 , hut as a cricketer has always boon identified with Victoria. Like M'L ombll and B ohhok he has now