Billy Midwinter
A nomadic cricketer whose unique double allegiance saw him play Test matches for both Australia and England in the sport's earliest days.
1851–1890 (age 39)·Australian cricketer·Birthday: June 19
Biography
Billy Midwinter's story is a curious artifact from the dawn of international cricket, a tale of colonial movement and shifting loyalties. Born in the Victorian goldfields, he learned his cricket in Australia before traveling to England as a professional for Gloucestershire under the legendary W.G. Grace. His Test career became a historical oddity: he first played for Australia against England in 1877, then, while living in England, was selected to play *for* England against Australia in 1881 and 1882. He later switched back to the Australian side for a final Test in 1887. This made him the only man to represent both nations in Ashes contests. His life was one of constant travel between hemispheres, a skilled all-rounder whose career was ultimately cut short by poor health, dying far from home in a Melbourne asylum.
#1 When Billy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1851
Billy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1851Born
1856Started school
1864Became a teenager
President: Abraham Lincoln
1867Could drive
President: Andrew Johnson
1869Could vote
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1872Turned 21
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1881Turned 30
President: Chester A. Arthur
1890Died at 39
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
Key Achievements
- Remains the only Test cricketer to have played for both Australia and England in matches against each other.
- Played in the very first Test match on English soil at The Oval in 1880, representing Australia.
- Took over 1,200 first-class wickets with his round-arm medium pace while also scoring over 10,000 runs.
Did You Know?
He was famously 'kidnapped' by W.G. Grace from the Australian team hotel in 1878 to play a county match for Gloucestershire.
Midwinter worked as a groundsman at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after his playing career ended.
He died in the Kew Asylum in Melbourne at the age of 38, suffering from 'general paralysis'.
“The ball must be hit, not patted.”
