[5] He captained the Oxford University side and then played for West of Scotland[1] He was noted by the Athletic News as a 'working forward and very efficient with his feet; in other words, he was a sound dribbler.
[2] Mr. Walker often played cricket for West of Scotland, Grange, Fettesian-Lorettonians, and in the second visit of the Australian XI.
He was for many years one of Scotland's most accomplished, all-round sportsmen, and the large number of mourners his funeral was tribute the esteem and admiration in which was held.
To the attention shown to the cultivation of proper form in the principal Schools on the other side of the border, is in a great - measure due the improvement in the so noticeable among cricketers of play l tch extraction.
Fettes and Loretto, the latter in particular, have furnished during the last few years, considering their limited resources, a very respectable proportion of cricketers to the two English Universities.
Sent to Loretto in his thirteenth year, he secured a place in the School cricket eleven in the summer of 1875, when not yet sixteen.
That he was in capital form, though, was proved satisfactorily later in the season, and his brilliant performance at Glasgow at the end of that summer against the Australians will not soon be forgotten, particularly by Glasgowegians.
Playing for Eighteen of the Clydesdale Club he defied for a long time all the best Colonial bowling, and his score of eighty-five in that match was one of the best innings made against the Second Australian Team.
This brilliant performance gave him, as was only to be expected, a high reputation, and the authorities at Oxford were hopeful that he would prova a valuable acquisition in the following seas His opening performance of 1881, too, was of a kind to fully justify these expectations, a his first score of 81 out of 178 in the Seniors' match was an excellent display of crick it.
Unfortunately, though, a severe attack of bronchitis put an end to his chances of cricket for the year, and he was prevented from playing in any of the Oxford matches during that summer—a great disappointment, it will be readily understood.
The following season saw another old Lorettonian, Mr. Norman McLachlan, Captain of the Oxford University Eleven, and again Mr. Walker was seen to advantage in the earliest of the trial fixtures.
at Lord's he was credited with 15 and 5, but at the Oval he failed to score either time, and in the University match he had to be content with 6 runs as the result of his two innings.
His highest scores in the earlier matches were his 93 and 29 against the Gentlemen, but he rarely failed to make a good show, and his 63 in the opening fixture against M.C.C.
Against Cambridge, at Lord's, too, his batting was of the greatest use, and his second score of 51, for which he was two hours and ten minutes at the wickets, was an admirable display of defensive cricket.
Mr. Walker has been actively identified of late years with the Free Foresters, and both for this club as well as for I Zingari, of which distinguished fraternity he is now a member, has done excellent service.
He was Captain of the Oxford team in 1883, but had to give up the game, having sprained his ankle when playing for Scotland against Wales.
he proceeded to Trinity College, Oxford where he had a distinguished career, both as a scholar and as an all-round sportsman, had earned fame at school as a prominent Rugby football player, and he developed his skill at Oxford and notably that he was appointed captain of the University Fifteen and captained the University Eleven in 1881 season.
In this game sixteen of Clydestlak, were opposed to the powerful Australian Eleven• which included 11Iiirdoeh (captain); Spidforth, the demon howler: George Palmer.
the great South Australian cricketer, who in his Glth year am; given a complimentary benefit at Adelaide last January when Clem Hill turned nut in his bottom.
a splendid medium-paced howler, who resembled the great W. G. Grace in physique and looks; giant George Bonner.
The first time Drumnellier Eleven met J G. Walker was in 1853 season in a match against a powerful Lasswade side at the beautiful grounds of Polton, helon:'ing to the late W. M. Romervill, uncle of the celebrated Caldwell brothers.
The: manipulation of his bowling strength and brilliant fielding against a usually winning side, with brit 48 runs to get, will never he forgotten hf three present that day.
: hut on this occasion J. G. was dismissed by a fine catch off Houston's howling by Jamie Ring before he had got set.
In 1883 season playing against the Weld of Scotland we met for the first time in Glasgow at Particle, where James Buchanan heat and bowled the subject of thin appreciation with only three runs to his credit.
This time we nearly rune cropper, and our sequence of wins cane to an end in 1888 season, when, after a fine exhibition of batting at Drumpeiller, were badly beaten in the return by four wickets, chiefly through the grated stand of Tom Anderson and Morris (professional J. G. Walker haring 8 runs to his credit At Drumpellier.
He had visited Drumpellier Policies on three occasions that season, and was well-known by the great majority of the spectators as most formidable opponent.
t Wed eeda, 28th March, his remains were followed to Glasgow Necropolis by a very presentative gathering of those who had enjoyed his personal friendship, cemented 0.1 the cricket field of bygone days.
Winning the toss, the latter elected to bat and sent in Jae Anderson :cod Johnny Mailer to fare the howling of .7. and Hancock (professional).
Dr Stuart filled the vacancy, but after, coring 5 rims he was finely taken at the wicket by young Jamie Girton off Johnny Cunningham's howling.
Ten rum were put on for the loos of Meninx's wicket; then Willie Jardine joined A. :11`11iIlan and the total was taken to 43 before 71I^Millan was bowled by Henderson with 12 rears to his credit.