Gregor M'Gregor

MR. GREGOR M'GREGOR is by many years the youngest of our five wicket-keepers, having been born in Edinburgh on August 31, 1869. Through only in his twenty-second year, however, he has already done enough to secure a place in the roll of famous cricketers. He has been closely associated with the game nearly all his life, and it is on record that when he was only nine years old, he took, at Craigmount School, three wickets in three balls, and played an innings of 65. His connection with purely English cricket only dates from his appearance in the Uppingham School eleven in 1886. In that year he obtained his colours as a batsman, and it was not until the following season that he filled the position which has since made him famous. At the end of the season of 1887 he went up to Cambridge, going into residence at Jesus College. In the early trial matches at Cambridge in 1888 he quickly revealed his powers, and when once he had been seen on the University ground there was little question as to his being included in the eleven. The reputation he made in 1888 was largely increased in the following year, while in 1890 he had the very high honour of being selected as the England wicket-keeper in the representative matches against Australia. This great responsibility did not find him wanting, and both at Lord's and the Oval he more than justified his selection. With a method that is as quiet and unpretentious as that of Pilling himself, Mr. M'Gregor has any amount of pluck, and it may be said of him, without the least exaggeration, that among the amateur wicket-keepers of the present generation he stands side by side with Alfred Lyttelton. Mr. M'Gregor last season made an immense advance as a batsman, and, even if he had lost his wicket-keeping, he would still have been able to retain his place in the Cambridge eleven. Indeed, except Mr. Douglas, there was no more consistent batsman on the side. After the close of the season he was elected captain of the University eleven for 1891, in succession to his friend Mr. Woods. Outside cricket Mr. M'Gregor is an expert football player, devoting his energies to the Rugby Union game. He played full-back for Scotland in all the International matches in 1890.