Robert Balfour

MR. ROBERT DRUMMOND BALFOUR, who was born at Putney on March 1, 1844, died at Welwyn on May 7. After playing in the Westminster XI, he obtained his blue at Cambridge, appearing four times ( 1863-66) against Oxford at Lord's. Scores and Biographies said of him: Is a safe and steady batsman, possessing an excellent style, and has distinguished himself in various matches. He was also a very good wicket-keeper, and in the University's match with Surrey at the Oval in 1866 caught three and stumped two in an innings. In his eight innings against Oxford he scored 101 runs, and was always on the losing side. In 1866, his last season in the Eleven, he appeared for the Gentlemen at Lord's, making 23 and 4, and bringing off two catches in the second innings of the Players, who (owing chiefly to a very lucky innings of 122 not out by the late Tom Hearne) won by 38 runs. In important cricket his highest score was 82 for the M.C.C. against the University at Lord's in 1867, but a year earlier he had made 67 on the same ground off the bowling of Wooton and Grundy, and in 1863 had played an innings of 60 against Buttress and Tarrant at Cambridge. Mr. Balfour, who played for I. Zingari and had been a member of the M.C.C. since 1868, was a younger brother of Mr. E. Balfour of the Oxford Eleven of 1852 and two following years. He was one of the men who helped to bring about the rule which prevented a cricketer from representing his University more than four times in the great match at Lord's.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack