Vernon Ransford

RANSFORD, MR. VERNON SEYMOUR, who died at Melbourne on March 19, the day before his 73rd birthday, was an attractive left-handed batsman and fine deep fieldsman for Australia and Victoria. He first appeared for his State in 1903-4 and between then and 1925-6 he scored 4,350 runs for them, including twelve centuries, average 37.24. Against New South Wales at Sydney in 1908-9 he hit a century in each innings, 182 and 110, and almost made three in successive innings against the same opponents, for he put together 94 in the first meeting at Melbourne.

He took part in 20 Test matches for Australia, 15 of them in his own country and five when touring England with M. A. Noble's team, scoring 1,211 runs. In England he overcame strange conditions so successfully that he hit 143 not out in the Test match at Lord's and headed the Australian Test figures with an average of 58.83. In all matches that season, 1909, he registered 1,783 runs, average 43.48, and his six three-figure innings included the highest of his career -- 190 against M.C.C. at Lord's. From 1939 to 1957 he held the post of secretary to the Melbourne C.C.