First Wicket

NZ Truth, Issue 1001, 31 January 1925, Page 11

First Wicket

HOBBS'S GREAT RECORD

Fourteen Test Partnerships.

Jack Hobbs, England's champion batsman, has established, a wonderful record' for first wicket partnerships m Test cricket.

Prior to this season he had been associated m five partnerships of more than 100 against Australia, and he, has added three more m this season's games. His list against Australia ! s as follows, given m,; the order m which, they were accomplished: " 105* with C. B. Fry at Birmingham m May, 1909. ' r 147 with W. Rhodes at Adelaide m January, 1912. 323 with W. Rhodes at. Melbourne *n February, • 1912. 112 with W. Rhodes at Lord's m June, 1912. 107 with W. Rhodes at the Oval 5n August, 1912. 157 with H. Sutcliffe at Sydney m December, 1924. 110 with H. Sutcliffe at Sydney "m December, 1924. ' . ■ 283 with H. Sutcliffe at Melbourne ?n January, 1925. ♦Unfinished. He has been associated m several second and third wicket partnerships. In addition, Hobbs has had a hand m six first wicket ' century partnerships for v England against South .Africa, as follows: ■ 268 with H. Sutcliffe at Lords m 1924. 221 with W. Rhodes a,t Capetown 2n 1909-10. 159. with ~W k . Rhodes at "Johannesburg .-■ m 1909-10". . 136 with H. Sutcliffe at Birmingham m ■ . 1924. ' , 133 with W. Rhodes at Durban m 1913- --■ 14. - -. 100 With W. Rhodes at Johannesburg ' m 1913-14; • Only twoCbther. first wicket partnerships of more.' than 100 have been established by English batsmen m matches against South Africa. It : will be noticed that ; in the fourteen century partnerships given m the above lists Hobbs. has had Rhodes as his . partner eight times, Sutcliffe. five times, and Fry once. . His partnership with Sutcliffe is a record for any cricket m matches be.tweei) England and South. Africa, and his partnership of 323 with Rhodes is a record for any wicket m matches between England and Australia. In the second Test Hobbs made his eighth century against Australia, and accomplished the feat, for the first time by an English batsman, of scoring 2000 runs against Australian bowling.