Rugby educated, Leland Hone came from a well-known Irish cricketing family and was chosen to tour Australia under Lord Harris in 1878-79 after two first-class appearances (both for MCC against the universities). Primarily a middle-order batsman who occasionally kept wicket, when it became clear that Harris's side lacked a regular wicketkeeper, Hone was drafted in, making his third first-class appearance in the only Test against Australia at Melbourne. He was the first player to represent England without first playing for a county. He played four more games on the tour, one (again for MCC) in 1880 - picking up a pair - and that was that. His eight first-class appearances came on three grounds - Lord's (3), Melbourne (3) and Sydney (2). He later played for All Ireland.
Martin Williamson

Leland Hone, who was born in Dublin and died there, aged 43, on December 31, 1896, was an old Rugbeian and a member of a well-known Irish cricketing family. He became the first player from outside the first-class counties to represent England when he was taken to Australia as a member of Lord Harris's largely amateur and quite unrepresentative party in 1878-79. Hone was obliged to keep wicket, and played in the only Test of the tour, scoring seven and six and taking two catches. He played only three first-class matches outside the tour, for MCC.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack