Albert Rose-Innes learned his cricket in the Cape but moved to Kimberley in his late teens at the height of the diamond rush. A more than capable allrounder, he was a solid batsman and slow left-armer whose first Test appearance - against England in 1888-89 - was his first-class debut. He took 5 for 43 in the first Test at Cape Town but went wicketless in the second Test at Johannesburg. He played four matches for Kimberley in 1889-90, taking five wickets in the match against Transvaal, and then two matches for Transvaal (where had moved to after his time in the diamond fields) with moderate success in 1984-95. He was in the meeting held before the first Test in 1888-89 which was the formation of the South African Cricket Association representing the Eastern Cape and spent two years as Secretary and Treasurer of the Transvaal Cricket Union before returning to the Cape where he helped to promote the game for many years.
Martin Williamson