Jack Blackham

By virtue of his capacities as a wicketkeeper in the very early days of Australian first-class cricket, Jack Blackham is widely reputed to have been one of the finest cricketers that his nation has ever produced. In an era in which the flimsy texture of wicketkeeping gloves provided little protection from the consistent pounding of balls into a wearer's hands, Blackham displayed extraordinary skill and it is said that he rarely failed to seize an opportunity to effect a dismissal in his position behind the wicket. He was so competent that he was regarded as Australia's first choice wicketkeeper for a period of no less than 18 years, occupying the role from the time of his country's first ever Test - in 1877. Unlike many of his peers or successors, Blackham was just as happy to stand up to the stumps to pace bowlers as he was to spinners. He was also a stubborn batsman in the lower order, and played many valuable innings. Of these, the 74 that he made against England in Sydney in 1894-85 stands out statistically, for it was both his own highest score and allowed him to join with Syd Gregory in delivering Australia what still remains its all time record Test partnership for the ninth wicket. As a reflection of his considerable ability, Blackham was named by Wisden as one of its Cricketers of the Year in 1891. More recently, he was honoured by being selected as one of the inaugural members of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
John Polack