| Robert Drummond Balfour | |
| Birth Date: | 1 March 1844 |
| Birth Place: | Putney, Surrey, England |
| Education: | Westminster School, London Bradfield College, Berkshire |
| Occupation: | Cricketer Stockbroker |
| Relatives: | Edward Balfour (brother) Archibald Balfour (brother) |
Robert Drummond Balfour (1 March 1844 – 7 May 1915) was an English cricketer who won four consecutive blues playing for Cambridge University between 1863 and 1866. Following University he continued his first-class career with a variety of invitational sides and represented Scotland against Surrey.[1] [2]
Robert Drummond Balfour was born on 1 March 1844 in Putney, Surrey and was educated at Bradfield College, from 1857 to 1859 at Westminster School, and then at Magdalene College, Cambridge.[3] He was a right-handed, middle or lower-order batsman and wicket-keeper. By the time he went up to Cambridge Balfour had already played a good standard of club cricket for I Zingari and for a XXII of Cirencester against the United All-England Eleven.[4] He made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against MCC in 1863, and remained a first choice in the eleven for five years.[5] [6]
After completing his studies he continued to play regularly for the MCC and also once for the Gentlemen versus Players.[7] He represented Scotland in their first ever capped match, against Surrey.[1] [8] His final appearance in first-class Cricket was for the MCC against Cambridge University in 1873.[9] In 59 first-class innings Balfour scored 685 runs at an average of 12.45. His highest score was 82. As a 'keeper he effected 33 dismissals, 22 of which were catches and 11 stumpings. There is no record of him bowling.[10] He is known to have batted alongside W. G. Grace, for example when he was first batsman in the MCC's match against Hertfordshire at Chorleywood, in May 1872.
Drummond Balfour became a stockbroker and a member of the Stock Exchange with the firm of Capel & Co.[11] He married Catherine Elizabeth Donaldson in 1876 and died on 7 May 1915 at Sherrards, a house located near The Frythe[12] in Welwyn, Hertfordshire.[3] [13]