194 ON AND OFF THE TUEF. 



a certain ball wliich McKibbin sometimes pitched 

 that no batsman could play. If lie could always 

 manage this particular ball when wanted, he would 

 indeed be a wonder. Callaway at one time I fancied 

 would develop into a fine all-round cricketer. He 

 was a good steady bat, and a capital bowler. He, 

 however, put on flesh rapidly, and in later matches 

 did not show so well as his early promise indicated. 

 Eady, of Tasmania, is another bat that has come into 

 prominence of late, and there are many others I 

 could mention. 



The last time I met long George Bonner was in 

 Orange, his native place, where he was leading an 

 easy life. I can remember the sensational hits 

 Bonner made when he was in the Australian team, 

 eleven or twelve years age. The best Australian 

 Eleven I ever saw in England was that captained by 

 Murdoch in the early eighties. It was a remarkably 

 powerful team, and gave the English cricketers a 

 surprise. What a demon Spofforth was, and how 

 his balls were sent in like a shot from a cannon. I 

 recollect at Trent Bridge Ground, Nottingham, a 

 young fellow remarked as Spofforth went back to 

 take a longer run than usual, *' He's off to the ^Flying 

 Horse ^ for lunch/' There were flying bails with that 

 particular ball. The Bannermans I have seen play 

 on both sides of the world, and also Garratt, Sam 

 Jones, Bruce^ Blackham, Massey, and many morQ 



