JACK HOBBS WAS NEVER COACHED

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 5

JACK HOBBS WAS NEVER COACHED

Jack Hobbs was the son of a professional cricketer. The father used to bowl at the practice nets at Fenner’s, the Cambridge University Ground. It was in Cambridge that Jack was born. One of 12 children, six boys and six girls—an 11 with an umpire thrown in. Hobbs was never coached. There's something for your quid nuncs to chew oyer. Neither was Billy Murdoch, the rival to W. G. Grace. Neifher was Victor Trumper—on the word of his father. Hobbs was a baby in his father’s arms at the match between the Australians v. Cambridge University at Fenner’s in 1884. He chortled so loudly as he watched the match that one of the Australians in the field near by turned around and said with a smile, “Better make a cricketer of that kid, old man!” A man of vision was that Australian.