After umpiring a match between an eleven from Robert Warton's touring English side against a twenty-two from Port Elizabeth in January 1889, and a second match between eleven of the tourists and a fifteen from Eastern Province on 8, 9 and 11 March, he made his debut as a Test match in the 1st Test played between South Africa and England at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, on 12 and 13 March 1889.
This match between representative sides from England and South Africa was later accorded Test status, making it the first Test match played by South Africa.
Only Bernard Tancred (29) and South Africa captain Owen Dunell (26) (and extras) achieving double figures.
England hit 148 in reply, with Bobby Abel scoring 46 after opening the batting, and Arnold Fothergill scoring 32 in a last-wicket stand of 45 with the Honourable Charles Coventry; Albert Rose-Innes took 5/43.
South Africa reached 129 in their second innings, setting England a target of 66 to win, which was achieved with only 2 wickets down, with Abel 23 not out.