MR W.L. MURDOCHI, THE AUSTRALIAN' BATSMAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1530, 25 April 1882, Page 4

MR W.L. MURDOCHI, THE AUSTRALIAN' BATSMAN.

♦ In virtue of his recent brilliant exploits in the Intercolonial cricket areuo, Mr W. L. Murdoch is undoubtedly the popular man of the hour. His performances are such as to attract universal admiration, and but few cricketers, or indeed exponents of any other athletic pastime, over live to attain such a degree of prominence as that at present enjoyed by the illustrious New South Welshman, whose name— to use a hackneyed expression — has become familiar as household words with the English speaking population of the two hemispheres. His memorable behaviour in the great Intercolonial cricketing tournament at Kensington Oval in September, 1880, was sufficiently meritorious, but it will readily be admitted that the lustre ot his achievements upon that auspicious occasion pales before the sparkling brilliancy of his later efforts with the willow on. the New South Wales convincing ground in Moore Park. A few remarks on the career of such an eminent cricketer will prove interesting. A Victorian by birth, born at Sandhurst in 1853, William Lloyd Murdoch migrated with his parents to Sydney when only three years old, and there it was that the subject of our sketch became initiated in the rudiments of the game iv which he was destined to become such an accomplished cxpdnent. During the preliminary tour of the Australian eleven in the Colonies his average was but 12 runs for 30 innings while in England he increased it to 13 runs for 62 innings. In America he still further improved his recoid to 21 runs per innings, and on his return to the Colonies he attained the height of his ambition by getting to the top of the list with the splendid a\eiago ot .').') 'lo runs for twelve innings, obtained in matches against odds lepresentiiig the remaining cricketing ntn t me of the several Colonies, and against Lord Harris's Eleven. Ou his return, Mr Murdoch foiced the admission of his supei 101 lty as a batsman. His masterty contribution of 153 against fifteen of Victoria was pronounced on all hands to be the most pei feet exhibition of cricket ever witnessed on a Victorian cricket field, and the pcifounance- has never since been emulated in point of merit on on the southern side of the Mmiay. Hoi.tn, Massic, M'Donnoll, Groqory, and the biotheis Bamieimau have \ , vaiious times bcencroditeilwifchliighly meritorious perfoiin.incos in impoitant contests, but each of their individual efforts have m turn lacked that brilliancy of execution, that elegance of style, that accurate tuning, that impregnable defence, and, beyond all, tlio superb cutting which characterised Mmdoch's magnificient innings, on the Ivist Melbourne ground. It was :i batting triumph in e\eiy .sense of the woid, and with the decline of the elder Bannerman, Mr Miudoch became woitluly recogniacd as Australia's piumier batsman — the W. (r. O-i ace ot the southern hemisphere. This title lie has hetoically maintained to the present day. Mr Murdoch's popularity led to his selection as captain of the second Austialian Eleven, a post ior which lie was> admirably qualified, and the duties of which he fulfilled with oictiifc to himself, his team, and the colonies at large. Ilissccoud pilgrimage o.i the Ljieeu bwaidb ot England afforded additional proof of his prowe&s with the bat, though in a measiuc his pie\ious pci toniuuices were obscured by his famous unfinished innings of 153, at Kensington Oval, in the great match England >\ Australia For two consecutive days he withstood the attacks of Shaw, Morley, A. G. Steele, W. G-. Grace, and Barnes, which represented the combined strength of English bowling, amateur and professional ; and in the end the redoubtable Australian retired, the hero of one of the greatest matches ever decided within the environs of the United Kingdom. So enraptured were the Australian residents in London with the praiseworthy doings of the young New South Welshman, under exceptionally trying circumstances, and when nothing but inevitable defeat stared him and his confreres straight in the face, and they instituted a testimonial which resulted in the Australian captain being presented with a massive silver loving cup, weighing 65 oz., suitably inscribed. From the same source was raised a 50-guinea cup for presentation to the highest individual scorer in the intercolonial matches of the present seasou, and by means of , his mammoth scoic of 321 in the match just tci initiated Mr Muidoch has al^o become the recipient of that coveted trophy — a stuuige but paititulaily happy coincidence, dcsei \ ing to a dcgicc. His last pciforniancc takes precedence as the highest individual score cm* made in the Australian colonies, and, taking into consideration the unquestionable quality of tho opposing bowling, as well as the efficiency of the fielding, the innings is entitled to take foremost lank iv the cricketing lecords, English and Australian, of the past. It was in every respect a most accomplished display, entailing not only the necessity skill, neive and patience, but amount of physical power and endurance not possessed by every cricketer. Take him all for all, Mi Murdoch may be held up as the most scientific batsman of modern times', and electrifying as is his most recent performance, his presence in the third Australian team now in couise of foi mation is calculated to enhance our chances of success when we throw down the gauntlet to John Bull at Kennington Oval in July. Popular among cricketers, and respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, Mr Murdoch is of an unassuming and retiring disposition, and eminently qualified to pose as the champion cricketer of the period. Latterly Mr Murdoch has taken up his abode in the flourishing township of Cootainundia, the so-called " City of the Plains," where he follows his profession as attorney to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. —Leader.