EXIT JACK HOBBS

Evening Star, Issue 20595, 22 September 1930, Page 4

EXIT JACK HOBBS

VETERAN’S WONDERFUL TEST RECORD

It may bo taken for granted that Jack Hobbs has played his last test match against Australia. He has had. a long run and has built up a wonderful record in these games as well.as in other classes of cricket (says the ‘ Sporting Globe ’). Now forty-seven years of age, Hobbs has been before the public as a firstclass player for twenty-six years, and has been playing in tests against Australia for twenty-three years. Ho ranks as the greatest English batsman •of modern times, and lor years was regarded as the greatest in the world. Hobbs’s record is an amazing one. Only recently ho broke Hr W. G. Grace’s record of 54,896 runs in firstclass cricket ; some years ago he broke Grace’s record of 126 centuries; he has made more runs and more centuries and been associated in more first-wicket century partnerships than any other batsman—l4s to tho end of last English season—and ho has scored more runs (3,636) and made more centuries (12) than any other player in tests between England and Australia. He has also made two centuries in a match on five occasions, tho most recent instance being at the start of this season, and he holds innumerable other records. Bemarkablo consistency lias always marked bis batting, and this is in evidence in his test match innings, which are as follow:

SUMMARY. Matches. Inns. N.O. Runs. Average. 41 71 4 3,036 54.26 In 1921 lie was kept out of the lirst two tests by an injured leg. He was one of the English eleven at Leeds, but after fielding for a time had to bo hurried awcy to hospital to undergo an operation for appendicitis. CENTURY EFFORTS. Hobbs’s twelve century scores against Australia are:— 126*, at Melbourne, 1911-12. 137, at Adelaide. 1911-12. ITS, at Melbourne, 1911-12. 107, at Lord’s, 1912. 122, at Melbourne, 1920-21. 123, at Adelaide, 1920-21. 115, at Sydney, 1924-25. 154, at Melbourne, 1924-25. 119, at Adelaide, 1924-25. 119, at Lord’s, 1926. 100, at Oval, 192 G. 142, at Melbourne, 1928-29. THREE-FIGURE PARTNERSHIPS. Hobbs has taken part in twenty-two century partnerships against Australia, sixteen of them for the first wicket. They are:— —First Wicket.— 105* (With C. 13. Fry), Birmingham, 1909. 147 (with AY. Rhodes), Adelaide, 1911-12. 323 with W. Rhodes), Melbourne, 1911-12. 212 (with W- Rhodes), Lord’s, 1912. 107 (with W. Rhodes), Oval, 1912. 157 (with 11. Sutcliffe), Sydney, 1924-25. i 110 (with H. Sutcliffe), Sydney, 1924-25. 233 (with H. Sutcliffe), Melbourne, 1924-25. 126 (with H. Sutcliffe), Melbourne, 1924-25. 182 (with H. Sutcliffe), Lord’s, 1920. 156'(with H. Sutcliffe), Leeds, 1926. 172 (with H. Sutcliffe), Oval, 1926. 105 (with H. Sutcliffe), Melbourne, 1928-29. 143 (with H. Sutcliffe), Adelaide, 1928-29. 125 (with H. Sutcliffe), Nottingham--1930. 103 (with H. Sutcliffe), Manchester, 1930, —Second Wicket.— 131 (with G. Gunn), Sydney, 1907-08. 112 (with G. Gunn), Melbourne, 1911-12. 100 (with J. W. Hearne), Sydney, 1920-21. 105 (with 11. Makepeace), Adelaide, 1920-21. —Third Wicket.— 142 (with E. Hcndren), Melbourne, 1920-21. —Seventh Wicket. — 117 (with E. Hcndren), Adelaide 1924-25. Hobbs now equals W. Rhodes’s record of 41 tests against Australia. Syd Gregory, however, played in 52 for Australia, and W. Armstrong in 42, and O. Hill in 41. On two occasions ho made a century in each of three successive matches; ho made more scores exceeding 50 than any other man on either sido; in three seasons—twice in Australia and onco in England, ho had an aggregate exceeding 500 runs for a scries; and on one occasion ho and H. Sutcliffe batted all day without being separated. England will bo fortunate if she over has another man to equal Hobbs as an opening batsman. Tlio great champion leaves the test match arena witii the best wishes of English and Australian followers of tho game, for ha is equally popular on both sides of the world. Ho should have a few seasons of county cricket before him yet, butwit will bo most unexpected if test cricket secs him again.

First Second 1907-8: In Australia— Inns. Inns. Melbourne 80 28 Adelaide 26 26* Melbourne 57 0 Sydney 72 16 1909; In England— Birmingham 0 Lord's 19 62* 9 Leeds 12 60 1911-12; In Australia— Sydney GO 22 Melbourne G* 126* Adelaide 187 6 Melbourne 178 — Sydney ... :. 62 45 1912: In England— Lord’s .107 Manchester 19 — Oval 66 62 1920-1: In Australia— Melbourne 122 20 Sydney 19 59 Adelaide 18 126 Melbourne 27 16 Sydney 10 6 1 1921: In England— Leeds --- 1924-5: In Australia— Sydney 115 57 Melbourne 151 22 Adelaide 119 27 .Melbourne GO Sydney 0 16 1926: In England- - Nottingham 19* ... Lord’s 119 Leeds 19 88 Manchester 71 —- Oval 67 100 1923-9; In Australia— Brisbane 19 11 Sydney 10 Melbourne 20 40 Adelaide 7-1 1 Melbourne ... 142 65 1960: In England— Nottingham 73 74 Lord’s 1 19 Leeds- 29 16 Manchester 61 .... Oval ... 47 9