Sir Jack Hobbs was a purists’ purist. He brought to batting a new dimension, a rare canvas of perfection: something that is as yet unmatched. Hobbs’ art was full of profound expression, a fount of wisdom. Of subtle refinement and classical definition — a celebration of cricket syntax and grammar.
Hobbs (December 16, 1882-December 21, 1963), was one of English cricket’s finest jewels. He was endowed with transcendent decorum. He amassed 61,760 runs in first-class cricket: a whopping achievement, in 834 matches, 1,325 innings, replete with 199 centuries (273 fifties), with 316 not out, as his highest score. It’s, indeed, a world record of unparalleled excellence. His average was outstanding too: 50.70.
What’s also amazing is the fact that Hobbs posted no less than 98 of his ‘tons’ after his 40th birthday. Life, it is said, begins at 40. Hobbs, the supreme craftsman, exemplified this timeless maxim, like no other cricketer before, or after, him.
A legendary artist, Hobbs, was blessed with his own god-gifted embellishment, the cricket bat. He played the game in copy-book style without ever compromising on the refined foundations of his batting skills, or alchemy. He pursued his vocation with a sense of total commitment — and, whenever the situation required a change in game plan, he evaluated it with a feeling of uplifting subjectivity, not just objectivity alone.
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