Re: quite an achievement

In message <FJdnIkGlZSiHFw2l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, John Hall <nospam_nov03@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes

Hammond was 43 at the time and only one
batsman over 40 has ever succeeded in Oz, Jack Hobbs. RH

Since Hammond was comparable in quality to Hobbs,

Wally didn't, in Corporal Jones words, "Like it up him". Hobbs was a brilliant player of quick bowling. RH

it was not unreasonable to hope that he would do comparably well. And if Hammond didn't go, you would need to find another amateur to replace him as captain. Who would you have chosen?

I wouldn't have chosen an amateur. Of the amateurs playing regularly in 1946, these were the best options: T N Pearce, B H Valentine, Ken Cranston, A P Singleton, Norman Yardley. Of those, I would probably have gone for Valentine or Tom Pearce. RH


Clive Lloyd 1984/5.


Irrelevant to the Hammond case. RH

Hendren made 95 & 1 in his one match there after
reaching 40,

I match and he was only just past 40. . RH

Mead was top scorer in his last Test innings at 41,

1 match in the series. RH

Grace
didn't exactly fail in 1891/2, Herbie Taylor almost topped SA's averages in
1931/32 (not that that's saying a great deal), and Freddie Brown did better
than several of England's batsmen in 1950/51 (ditto).

An interesting list. How convincing it is partly depends on how many other 40+ batsmen toured Australia but failed. I imagine that the number of over 40 tourists who played in Tests in Australia must be fairlt small, though.
--
John Hall
"Honest criticism is hard to take,
particularly from a relative, a friend,
an acquaintance, or a stranger." Franklin P Jones

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