John McIlwraith (cricketer)

John McIlwraith (7 September 1857 – 5 July 1938) was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test match in 1886.

Early life and business career
Jack McIlwraith was the son of John McIlwraith, the co-founder of the McIlwraith McEacharn shipping company and Mayor of Melbourne in 1873–74, and the nephew of Thomas McIlwraith, who was several times Premier of Queensland. Jack was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He worked with McIlwraith McEacharn, managing the Melbourne office while still in his twenties, and later became a director. He was also involved with the company's lead-manufacturing concern.

Cricket career
McIlwraith played for Melbourne Cricket Club, scoring more than 1500 runs in the 1883–84 season. He was selected to play for Victoria in 1884–85. He was the outstanding batsman in the short Australian first-class season in 1885–86, scoring 315 runs at an average of 78.75, with two centuries; only one other batsman scored a century, and the next most successful batsman made 201 runs. He made his highest first-class score of 133 in the first match of the season, an innings victory for Victoria over New South Wales.

He toured England in 1886 with the Australian team, but was only moderately successful in a team that lost all three Tests. He was handicapped on English pitches by the lack of a sound defence, and made only 520 runs at an average of 16.25. He improved towards the end of the tour and played in the Third Test, but scored only 2 and 7 in an innings defeat. He continued playing for Victoria until 1889, when he retired to concentrate on the family business.

McIlwraith was also a leading Australian rules footballer for Melbourne in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) during the 1880s.

Personal life
McIlwraith married Florence Edith Osborn in June 1885. When he died on 5 July 1938 he left no family, his wife and only daughter having pre-deceased him.