His average is statistically the highest of any England Test player,[2] however a standard qualification of twenty innings played deducts him from the recognised lists.

[5] He played cricket as a professional for St Stanislaus College in Tullamore, Ireland in 1877, followed by stints at Catford Bridge and then Dover, Kent.

[6] He also made his first-class debut for Kent on 8 June 1876, taking two catches and performing three stumpings, and scoring 12 and 13 with the bat.

After a winter stint at Streatham Cricket Ground which enabled him to qualify for selection,[6] he made his Surrey debut on 19 May 1884 against a touring Australian team.

[10] In 1888, on the back of tidy glove work,[6] he was chosen to play for England against Australia on 13 August, and though he made eight with the bat he stumped Harry Trott and caught George Bonnor.

[6] He averaged 30.26 with the bat in 1895 including four half-centuries, and grew more prolific with the gloves: passing fifty catches in a season in both 1896 and 1897.