of these elevens were first-class, perhaps as good working elevens as the world has ever seen. Murdoch, M'Donnell, Scott, Giffen, Bonnor, Horan, and Massie were six batsmen in whom was mingled science, soundness, and daring hitting, a most dangerous combination, as every bowler knows; in bowling there were Spofforth, Boyle, Palmer, Giffen, Garrett, and Midwinter, and in this respect I believe the first four have never been surpassed or even quite equalled; and the wicket-keeping and fielding was quite first-rate.
These two elevens were the high-water mark of Australian cricket; none of the subsequent teams have come up to them. The 1896 eleven was a sound and excellent one; those of 1886, 1888, 1890, and 1893 were far inferior. Of course, in their own country, where England has never been able to send her very best eleven, the two elevens have played very evenly; and the struggle is by no means over yet, as there are no signs that visits will not be interchanged for many years to come.
