Spofforth Boycotts the First Test — March 1877

Australian intercolonial cricket in the 1870s was sharply factional. NSW and Victoria had separate cricket associations, separate styles of play, and separate wicketkeepers. Spofforth had bowled almost exclusively to Murdoch in NSW matches.

When the All-Australian XI was named with Blackham as keeper, Spofforth wrote to the selectors withdrawing himself. He cited the keeper choice and would not be moved.

Spofforth was 23 and already considered the most dangerous bowler in NSW cricket. He attributed much of his accuracy to Billy Murdoch's keeping at intercolonial level — in particular Murdoch's ability to take his quicker ball standing back. When the All-Australian XI for the Melbourne match was finalised with Blackham of Victoria as wicketkeeper rather than Murdoch, Spofforth declared he would not play. Contemporary accounts treat the gesture as both partisan (he was a NSW man not wishing to bowl to a Victorian keeper) and personal (he believed Blackham could not hold him). The selectors held firm. Blackham caught three batsmen and stumped one in the match without conceding a bye to Spofforth's replacement, Frank Allan, or to Midwinter. Spofforth, persuaded by a £50 inducement from the Melbourne Cricket Club, played in the rematch a fortnight later, with Murdoch as keeper, and took 1/67 and 3/67. Blackham eventually became the wicketkeeper Spofforth bowled to for most of his Test career — including the 1882 Oval Test that gave birth to the Ashes.

“Spofforth refused to play because he claimed that only Murdoch could handle his bowling.”

Spofforth's stand cost him the first Test of his life. He was selected for the second Test with Murdoch behind the stumps; Australia lost. He toured England in 1878 and made his international name with the famous MCC demolition at Lord's. He never took a public position on the keeper question again.