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Australian cricketer

William Bruce (22 May 1864 – 3 August 1925) was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Test matches between 1885 and 1895. He became a lawyer, practising in Melbourne.

Bruce was educated at Scotch College in Melbourne. In Melbourne senior cricket in 1883 84, playing for Melbourne against Hotham, he scored 328 not out, which was then a record individual score for all cricket in Australia. A left handed batsman, left arm medium pace bowler and brilliant cover fieldsman who could throw strongly with either arm, Bruce was renowned for his batting style: "he was the essence of grace in his batting, with a late cut that has never been surpassed among Australian batsmen". Bruce made his Test debut in the second match of the 1884 85 series after 10 of the Australian players went on strike. His best Test scores were 80 at Adelaide in 1894 95, 72 at Sydney in 1891 92, and 68 at Manchester in 1893, when he top scored. In 1888, Bruce joined Melbourne Cricket's baseball club for a four inning game played against the Chicago White Stockings of the U. S. National League, which were visiting Australia as part of a world tour. Bruce, acting as pitcher for the Melbourne side, was reported to have "very good form for a novice." For Victoria his highest score was 128 in 1892 93 against New South Wales. It was Victoria's first ever match in the Sheffield Shield, and Bruce's was Victoria first Sheffield Shield century. His best first class bowling figures were 7 for 72 for Victoria against the touring English team in 1886 87.

Bruce was found drowned in the sea off the Melbourne suburb of Elwood on 3 August 1925. He had been suffering from depression since an attack of influenza a year before, and was worried about his business. The coroner's inquest found that he had "died from drowning by his own act". He had "kissed his wife goodbye one morning in 1925, saying he wasn't sure after she had asked if he'd be home for dinner his legal practice in difficulties, drinking more than was good for him, and battling depression, Bruce drowned himself in the sea not far from his home."