Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/291

 He met with an unhappy accident while practising as a member of Mr. Vernon's team in Australia in 1887-8, and has not been able to play in first-class cricket since. His best batting years were:


 * 1883 || 44 || 1024 || 79 || 23.12
 * 1884 || 42 || 1000 || 133 || 23.34
 * 1885 || 46 || 1161 || 98 || 25.11
 * 1886 || 43 || 1018 || 136 || 23.29
 * 1887 || 40 || 996 || 103 || 24.36
 * }
 * 1886 || 43 || 1018 || 136 || 23.29
 * 1887 || 40 || 996 || 103 || 24.36
 * }
 * 1887 || 40 || 996 || 103 || 24.36
 * }

His best bowling years were :


 * 1878 || 901 || 337 || 1160|| 99 || 11.71
 * 1879 || 690 || 309 || 815 || 78 || 10.35
 * 1881 || 1279 || 540 || 1883 || 114 || 16.59
 * }
 * 1881 || 1279 || 540 || 1883 || 114 || 16.59
 * }
 * }

Mr. was born at Fitzroy, Melbourne, on the 11th of May, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 9 in.; weight, 11 st. 3 lbs. It can be said of him as of no other Australian, that he is without a rival in his own particular branch of the game. Blackham has a genius for wicket-keeping, but it is a genius that has been built up by stern hard work and pluck. He has been a member of every Australian team which has come to us. Before he had been a month in England in 1878 his quickness with the gloves was the admiration of all cricketers; to-day he has still no equal behind the wickets.

Above all other wicket-keepers he is noted for standing close to the wicket; and taking the ball and knocking off the bails may be described as one action. He is marvellously quick, taking shooters and yorkers between the wicket and the pads with comparative ease. The quality of the bowling makes no difference to him, for he is equally at home with fast and slow. I believe he was the first to teach us to do without a long-stop against fast bowling; but it must be remembered