John Hornsby was a good field, a safe catch and a useful slow bowler. He was in the Fettes XI in 1878 and 1879, being captain the latter year, and in 1893 played for Middlesex v Gloucestershire at Lord's. He took part in three tours abroad, visiting India with Mr. GF Vernon's team in 1889-90 and with that of Lord Hawke three years later, and also being a member of the latter's side to the United States and Canada in the autumn of 1891. His bowling proved very successful during his two trips to India. In 1889-90, when he took most wickets (69) and headed the averages, he had an analysis of 13 for 78 against Bombay Gymkhana. In 1892-3 his victims numbered 120, at a cost of 11.23 runs each. During the latter tour he obtained 8 for 27 v Bangalore, bowled unchanged with C. Heseltine against a Native XI in Madras, and had an analysis of 15 for 86 in a match with the Parsees in Bombay which the visitors won by seven runs. In America he did not meet with such outstanding success, but in the game with the Boston AA, at Longwood, he and Sammy Woods bowled unchanged through both innings, one of his analyses being 4 for 9.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack