TEST CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 102, 26 October 1929, Page 10

TEST CRICKET

ENGLAND'S FIRST CAPTAIN

JAMES LILLYWHITE DEAD

Australian Press Association—United Serrlc*. (Received 26th October, 2 pjn.). LONDON, 25th October. The death is announced of James Lillywhite, the famous cricketer, and the last survivor of tbe first Test match against Australia. James Lillywhite captained the English team in 1576-77, when England won. one match and Australia one, both games taking place at Melbourne, these being the first Tests on record. He visited New Zealand on three occasions. First, during the course of the 1876-77 tour, again in 1881-82, and for the third time some five or six years later. He was. born at Hampnett in 1842, and was generally referred to as James Lillywhite, jun., as a member of the family of the same name was playing in county cricket at the time, both turning out for Sussex. James Lillywhite, jun., all told made six trips to Australia with English elevens, the first being in 1873. - In twenty seasons of Sussex County cricket, beginning ia 1862, he did not miss a single match. He was left-handed both as a bowler and a batsman. His debut was truly sensational, s as in '62, for Sussex v. M.C.C., at Lord's, he took five wickets for 28 runs in the first innings and nine for 29 in the second. In all matches for his county, 1862-83, his victims numbered 917 at the average cost of 14.75 runs each. He was also a capital bat, his best season being that of 1868, when he averaged 40 per inings for 400 runs, including 126 not out against Middlesex at Islington. In all, he hit nearly 4000 runs in county cricket alone. Finally, he set the seal on his fame by taking all ten wickets for South v. North at Canterbury in. 1572.