Easy choice for me
John Berry Hobbs (Jack Hobbs)
Born 1882
Watched WG Grace bat in the 1890s
Played the great "googly" bowlers from SA in early 1900s
Played against Bradman in 1930
Watched Gary Sobers bat in early 1960s
His memory spans the evolution of a sport
John Berry Hobbs (Jack Hobbs)
Born 1882
Watched WG Grace bat in the 1890s
Played the great "googly" bowlers from SA in early 1900s
Played against Bradman in 1930
Watched Gary Sobers bat in early 1960s
His memory spans the evolution of a sport
When Hobbs started watching cricket as a kid in Surrey in the 1890s, there was one new ball/innings
LBW law ruled the ball had to pitch in line AND hit in line
Swing bowling was still unheard of
Googly had not been invented yet
Both these developments happened in early 1900s
LBW law ruled the ball had to pitch in line AND hit in line
Swing bowling was still unheard of
Googly had not been invented yet
Both these developments happened in early 1900s
When he hung up his boots in the early 30s -
The size of the ball and wickets had changed
The over had 6 balls and not 5 as in the 1890s
The LBW law had its reform in 1934
Three day tests were a thing of the past unlike in 1890s
The size of the ball and wickets had changed
The over had 6 balls and not 5 as in the 1890s
The LBW law had its reform in 1934
Three day tests were a thing of the past unlike in 1890s
By 1960s, you had a game that more or less resembled what we play today
Hobbs was witness to all of this!
He was in this unique position of having actually watched someone like Ranji and someone like Sobers!
Hobbs was witness to all of this!
He was in this unique position of having actually watched someone like Ranji and someone like Sobers!
