A profile of Jack Hobbs
by Dave Liverman
Jack Hobbs is a strong candidate for the greatest batsman ever,
with a career that was interrupted by the First World War, but
still resulted in 197 centuries. Although growing up in
Cambridge, he played for Surrey, and became the consummate opening
batsman, with a solid defence and a powerful attacking game,
showing mastery of most strokes. He was known as one of the best
runners between the wickets in the game, especially with his
regular opening partners, Hayward and Sandham for Surrey; Rhodes
and Sutcliffe for England. He was remarkable in his ability to
play high quality bowling on bad pitches, especially Australian
sticky wickets. He was also a splendid fielder, running out many
from his favoured position in the covers, and a respectable fast-
medium change bowler.
"He had all the gifts of a great batsman. They included the
qualities of understanding and sensitivity to a degree that made
him unique. Others scored faster; hit the ball harder; more
obviously murdered bowling. No-one else, though, ever batted with
more consummate skill than his, which was based essentially on an
infallible sympathy with the bowled ball. Although he could
improvise with quite impish virtuosity, it is no exaggeration to
say that frequently - even generally - the spectator felt that the
stroke he played seemed so natural as to be inevitable - or as if
a choreographer had designed it as the rhythmically and
poetically logical consequence of the bowler's delvery." (From Jack Hobbs - profile of 'the Master' by John Arlott)
(Article: Copyright © 2003 Dave Liverman)
