SPOFFORTH, FREDERICK ROBERT, "The Demon" (1853-1926), Australian cricketer, was born at Sydney, N.S.W., on Sept. 9, 1853, and died at Surbiton, Surrey, on June 4, 1926. He was educated at Eglington college, Sydney, and played in Australia up till 1888, when he came to England, and played occasionally in England until 1896. He visited England in the five tours from 1878 to 1886, and in his two great years, 1882 and 1884, took 188 and 218 wickets. Little interest was taken in England in the first Australian tour of 1878 up to his appear ance, at Lord's, to play the M.C.C. on May 27. By the end of the day the match was over; the M.C.C. were put out for 33 and 19, and Spofforth had taken 6 wickets for 4 runs and 4 for 16. This one day established Australia as a first-class cricketing power. His other great triumph was during the historic tour of 1882. In the test match at the Oval, England, with 84 to make to win, he lost by 7 runs. In the match Spofforth took 14 wickets for 90 runs. He was badly hurt early in the 1886 tour, and was never the same bowler again.
Of Spofforth's actual pace there are differing opinions. It is
perhaps, safe to say that when he first came to England he was really fast, but it is certain that he learnt at once to modify his pace on English wickets, and relied on disguised change of pace, with perhaps one really fast one in an over. Of his supremacy there is no doubt whatever. It may suffice to quote Lord Harris; "Spofforth was the ,nost difficult of them all." Spofforth was above all a man who "bowled with his head"; he got his wickets by variation of pace and flight, combined with a sharp off-break, and maintained an ascendancy by an unquenchable spirit of aggression, displayed in his terrifying run up to the wicket, with his long arms whirling, finishing in a beautifully graceful delivery which made the most of his great height.