CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 903, 24 August 1910, Page 5

CRICKET.

GEORGE PALMER DEAD. By Tdefraph—Prom ABsociatlon-Copyrlght. Melbourne, August 23. George Palmer, the well-known Austialian cricketer, died from pneumonia.

A BRILLIANT CAREER,

"Bell's Life in London" wrote of Mr. Palmer as follows at tho conclusion of the Australian tour of 1884:— "George Eugene Palmer, who, among contemporary bowlers, is second only to Spofforth, was born at Albury, New So uta Wales, on February 22, 1860, but as a cricketer he .has been solely identified with Victoria. Ho first made his name by bowling with ' great success against Lord Harris's team at Melbourne in 1879, and since then he has ranked higher than any other bowler in Victoria, taking the same position that was held for so many years by Frank Allan. He has a beautifully easy action, and breaks both ways with great variety of pace. No one in the world can bowl a better 'yorker.'- In Australia Palmer is by many competent judges considered an even better bowler than Spofforth; but, good as he is, he has never rivalled Spofforth in this country." Palmer's career as a cricketer was cut short earlier than it would otherwise have been by an accident to his knee whilst out shooting. It is true he played again, but lie never met with the same success. He is one of the few Australian players who, in one season, havo performed, tho great all round feat ofscoring over 1000 runs and taking over 100 wickets. Giffen has done it three times, Armstrong, twice, and Trumble once. Palmer visited England on four occasions and his' performances work out thus (eleven aside matches only):— 18SO—80 wickets, 892 runs, 11.1 average. 101 runs, 13 innings, 6 not out, 14.4 average.

1882—138 wickets, 1731 runs, 12.5 average. 26G runs, 32 innings, 8 not out, 11.08 average. i

1884—132 wickets, 2131 runs, IG.I average. 493 runs, 47 innings, 10 not out, 13.3 average. 1886—106 wickets, 2328 runs, 21.9 average. 1028 runs, 56 innings, 4 not out, 19.7 average. Palmer also made his presence felt on Australian fields, and played in Wellins.ton with the 1880 and 1886 teams. ■ He was married to a sister of Jack Blackham, most famous of all Australian stumpers.

"Old Times" writes: "G. E. Palmer was associated with a somewhat remarkable game played on the Basin Reserve here in 18GB, when the Australian team of which lie was a -member met 22 local players. 'It was on that occasion that Palmer and F. Jones opened the innings for Australia and gave tho Wellington team a day's leather-hunting, while nearly all of'Uhe rest of the.Australian team enjoyed themselves at Wainui-o-mata. At least this was the story told at tho time, and judging by tho performance of Palmer and Jones thev were told to stay in as long as possible and did so. Palmer was also a good bowler and no doubt W. P. M'Girr (who was the most successful trundler. for Wellington on the occasion in question) and the other local players envied his easy style and deadly precision. Palmer afterwards went to England with ono of the Australian elevens.