Lot 3651

Description

Australian cricket award fob, 1894, in 15ct gold (30x31mm; 7.79g), with suspension ring, shield shaped with provision for name or initials on obverse, reverse inscribed, 'All England/V/Queensland/Dec 1894/Highest Score/2nd Innings/Won By/P.S.McDonnell'. Very fine.

Percy Stanislaus McDonnell was born at Kensington, London, England on 13 November 1860. His family migrated to Melbourne in 1864 and Percy was schooled at St Patrick's College where he excelled at sport. He played for Australia touring England in 1880, 1882, 1884 and as captain in 1888. As at 1894 he was the only Australian cricketer who had scored over a century on three occasions against England. His top score was 147. In 1894 he was a member of the Graziers Cricket Club in Queensland and captain of their number one team. In the match All England vs Queensland played at the Exhibition Grounds 7-11 December 1894, the English team captained by Andrew Stoddart won by an innings and 274 runs. Percy McDonnell had the highest second innings score but it was only 22, needless to say the rest of the players batted miserably. Percy died of cardiac failure at his South Brisbane home on 24 September 1896, at the very young age of 35, and was buried at Toowong Cemetery.