OUR ILLUSTRATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1055, 22 April 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR ILLUSTRATION.

MR. W. L. MURDOCH, Mb, William Lloyd. Murdoch was bom at Sandhurst, Victoria, in 1855, and is, therefore, 26 years of age, When only three years old-his parents migrated to Sydney, and there it.was the subject of our sketch imbibed his classics and his.crickctatoncandthe same time. His education was sufficiently successful to enable him to become in time rin attorney of the Supreme Court, &c, But to ensure emiuoncc as a lawyer, undivided attention .'to business is required, arid Mi\ Murdoch probably finds the green sward more to his taste.than parchments and processes, Personally, Mr. Murdoch is of average stature, and well built, giving the impression of great activity and power of endurance, which is fully borne out on seeing him in the field, Mr, Murdoch did not show much form with the bat until his first experience in England, but, as a wicket-keeper, ■he- was remarkably brilliant, and many were the contentions as to whether he or Mr,' Blfickham was the hotter, Both were included inthefirstAustralian eleven in 1878, and it wns not very long before

Mr. Blackham forced the. (idruißsion'qf ( bia Buperi- : orityi and it wits gracefully conceded' by Mr.' Murdoch. Almost, from' tlie first appearance of .' the Australian Eleven in England, Mr. Murdoch's, style ". was admired, everyone shlecting bim as brie of; the prettiest'' bats in the team,.lt was not, howeyer,' during, their first tour that he came to the front, : although he played'some to the cblonyaVei'y.mucb improved batsman. This ' Wasprovod in the match 1 on the East Melbourne Ground ' between ' the Australian Eleven and Fifteen of Victoria, when he made 163 in faultless style, .'never.'giving a .'chaiicc. Hew now the 'best batsman in Australia 1 . He hits .and. cuts very hard and very clean, and a ball pitched to leg is. 'sure to be severely punished. In addition! he displays great judge-j inent in placing the ball, and once : he is set his defence 1 .' is ',' perfect, and a'splendid display of first-class'; scientific cricket is "assured. l In the field he' is brilliant,' his favorite position being mid-on'aud mi&off,'' ; '' This season he scored as follows;,— Against Shaw's'team,,at,Sydfiey, 58ahd;21;'ditto,Oootamundra, 58; Victoria; at ditto; at Sydney, 321, '