Career
In February 1869, Allan made his first-class debut for Victoria in an intercolonial match against New South Wales. Allan"s successes in intercolonial cricket earned him the sobriquet "the bowler of a century". Allan was probably past his best by the time Test cricket arrived but had a reputation as a superb medium pace bowler (though would probably be more regarded as a spin bowler in modern cricket).
On the Australians tour of 1878 to England, Allan produced some excellent spells of bowling to take over 200 wickets in all games on the tour.
However he was troubled by bouts of sickness from the point of arrival in England as he struggled to adjust to the cold weather. Allan"s only Test came against the touring Lord Harris XI in 1879.
Allan was also a leading Australian rules football player for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).
