The "Demon's" Farewell.

Evening Star, Issue 7643, 20 June 1888, Page 4

The "Demon's" Farewell.

Tho Melbourne Cricket Club banqueted Spofforth on the eve of his departure for England. The Chairman (Mr F. Smith) said that it was the custom in Victoria to affect the belief that Australian cricket owed its existence almost to the English teams which years ago visited us; but ho ventured to say that Australians were more indebted for the proud position they had gained in the field to their guest of that evening than to all the Englishmen put together.—(Loud cheers.) The fame of Australian cricket in the Old Country had been very largely established by two men who were with them that night. He alluded, of course, to their champion bowler, Mr Spollbrth, and their champion batsman, Mr W. L. Murdoch. Of Mr Spofforth they might truly say that his record as a bowler was unexampled in the wcrld.—(Cheers.) They had this confirmed, not only by their own judgment, but by the testimony of the best of English batsmen. Someone with a love for figures had handed him a few which might interest them. They allowed that during his several visits to England alone Mr Spofforth had bowled 7,325 overs, of whicli 3,031 were lnaideiiß, and had taken 1,241 wickets at an average cost of 8.90 runs per wicket. He had bowled 29,000 balls, and, allowing eight yards for tho run-up. which the calculator seemed to think was not too much, with two yards over the crease, and the same distance back again, it would follow that, in bowling in England alone, he had covered at least 330 miles. He had the gratilication of being associated with Mr Spofforth outside the cricket field, and knew that the institution with which they were both connected regretted very much that they were about to lone the benefit of his services. He was certain they would all join with him in wishing their guest a pleasant and prosperous voyage, and expressiug the hope that he would be as highly appreciated by his friends of the future as by the many he left behind him in Australia.—(Loud cheers.) Mr \V. L. Murdoch asked permission to say a few words to tho subjeer of the toast, Perhaps as a cricketer no one in Victoria had a better acquaintance with Mr Spofforth than himself, and l.c would say that no man who ever stepped into a cricket field played the game in a truer spirit than his friend their guest. Whether for New South Wales or Victoria, or as an Australian dealing with a wider issue, he always did the very best io: his side.—(Cheers.) He sincerely hoped that Mr Spofforth would reach England in time to play with the Australian team in one of the representative matches.— (Cheers.) He had a very clear recollection of the first occasion of his meeting Spofforth many years ago, when the Balmain Club, of which he was a member, sent a challenge to play the Glebe, aud for nights before the match Jim went to bed wondering whether lie could possibly get any runs against this bowler Spofforth, of whom the other side were boasting ; and when he was lucky enough to make It runs he was as proud of the feat as if he had been W. G. Grace. As a captain of several Australian teams, he could now only thank Mr Spofforth very heartily for the service he had rendered to Australian cricket.— (Applause.) Personally, ho hoped yet to recover sufficient form to get a place in the Victorian team against South Australia, but he had made up his mind that he would never go into the field to play against New South Wales. In the same way he hoped that their guest, whatever his success might be in England, would never bo found opposing an Australian Eleven.—(Cheers). Mr Spofforth, who was received with warm cheers, said that as a cricketer lie bad played the game to the best of his ability, and lud never refused to play except when he felt convinced he was unable to do justice either to himself or his side. It .vas quite as reasonable to expect a horse fresh from the paddock to win the Melbourne Cup as to expect him to do any good for his side without hard practice beforehand. Although born in New South Wales, he was not ashamed Lo admit that by sympathy he was a Victorian. Had he followed with others of his fellow-colonists the lead of Sir John Robertson and Sir Henry Parkes, he would have regarded all Victorians as his natural enemies, but he claimed to know Victoria at least, if not the whole of Australia, better than either of them, and during his three years' residence here he bad experienced nothing but continuous kindness, He cordially agreed with Mr Murdoch in tho hope that be wonld get to England in time to be of some service to tho Australians, but not in the determination not to play against Australia if England paid him the compliment of picking him. He could tell them that if as a member of an English team he was instrumental in beating an Australian Eleven, he would feel all the more proud of it for the sake of Australia. —(Cliofii'3.) Up to tho time of the accident to his linger in the last Australian tour he was never in better form, as he had over thirty wickets for about f> runs a wicket, and he was convinced that he had not yet lost bis powers as a bowler. Of one other thing he was certaiu, and it was that Australian associations would ever remain very dear to him, and if at any time, by any action of his, he could, even in a 3mall way, do anything for his country, he would do it cordially and in a heart-whole fashion.— (Loud cheers,)