A profile of Hubert Doggart by Dave Liverman

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Player:

GHG Doggart

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A fine University player Hubert Doggart captained one of the best Cambridge sides of all time in 1950 - Peter May, J.J.Warr, J.G.Dewes and D.S.Sheppard were members. He was one of only a handful of players to make a double century on first-class debut, for the University against Lancashire in 1948. The following season scored over 2,000 runs for Cambridge and Sussex, averaging over 45. Although the start to his season in 1950 was less impressive he was picked for the England side to face the West Indies. He had the misfortune to face Ramadhin and Valentine at their peak, and was out twice to Valentine in the First Test, and fell to Ramadhin in both innings in the famous Lord's Test, West Indies first win on English soil. He lost his place - his Cambridge team-mates Dewes and Sheppard also played for England that summer - and his future first-class cricket was limited by his teaching career at Winchester.

A fine forcing bat who usually batted at 3 or 4, he was also an occasional off-spin bowler and good slip fielder. He played for Sussex until 1961, but only played just over 200 first-class matches in all, making twenty centuries. He captained his county in 1954. His father played first-class cricket for Cambridge and Middlesex, his brother for Sussex, and his son for Cambridge University. He later became involved in cricket administration, firstly with the MCC committee, then as MCC President in 1981/82, also serving as President of the Cricket Council.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Dave Liverman)