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Matt Hobden

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Matt Hobden
Personal information
Full name
Matthew Edward Hobden
Born(1993-03-27)27 March 1993
Eastbourne, East Sussex, England
Died2 January 2016(2016-01-02) (aged 22)
Forres, Moray, Scotland[1]
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2012–2013Cardiff MCCU
2013–2015Sussex (squad no. 19)
FC debut31 March 2012 Cardiff MCCU v Somerset
Last FC19 July 2015 Sussex v Nottinghamshire
LA debut21 June 2013 Sussex v Nottinghamshire
Last LA19 August 2015 Sussex v Essex
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 18 3 1
Runs scored 121 5 –
Batting average 9.30 5.00 –
100s/50s 0/1 0/0 –
Top score 65* 3* –
Balls bowled 2,610 102 12
Wickets 48 1 0
Bowling average 39.35 88.00 –
5 wickets in innings 2 0 –
10 wickets in match 0 0 –
Best bowling 5/62 1/39 –
Catches/stumpings 3/– 0/– 0/–
Source: CricketArchive, 2 January 2016

Matthew Edward Hobden (27 March 1993 – 2 January 2016) was an English cricketer, a right-arm fast-medium bowler who batted right-handed. Born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Hobden was educated at Millfield School and Eastbourne College.[2] A police investigation into his death concluded in May 2016 with no further action or arrests.

Career

As a youngster, Hobden played for Glynde & Beddingham Cricket Club; in 2009, he was part of the team that won the National Village Cricket Knockout Final at Lord's. In 2012, Hobden started playing for Preston Nomads Cricket Team, and was part of the team that won the 2012 Sussex Premier League.[3] Hobden's last match for the Nomads was in August 2015, where he returned figures of 1/6 from 7 overs.[3]

While studying for a degree in Business Economics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Hobden made his debut in first-class cricket for Cardiff MCCU against Somerset at Taunton Vale Sports Club Ground in 2012. He made a second first-class appearance that season against Warwickshire at Edgbaston,[2] taking five wickets with figures of 5/62 in Warwickshire's first-innings.[4] He also played club cricket for Ynysygerwn.[2]

Hobden also played Second XI cricket for Sussex, and a day after signing a junior professional contract, he made his List A debut in a YB40 match against Nottinghamshire, with figures of 1/39 off 8 overs. In July 2013, he sustained a shin injury which ruled him out of the rest of the 2013 season.[5]

In May 2014, Hobden signed a professional contract with Sussex.[6][7] He made his County Championship debut on 1 June 2014, with match figures of 4/136. After the match, Hobden praised James Anyon, Jon Lewis and Steve Magoffin for encouraging him.[8] Hobden was sidelined for a long spell of the 2014 season.[9]

In April 2015, Hobden scored 65* in a Sussex record tenth-wicket partnership of 164 with Ollie Robinson.[3] In May 2015, Hobden was criticised after bowling 14 no-balls in a County Championship match against Middlesex, with 11 no-balls in the opening 16 overs.[10] The then Sussex captain Ed Joyce defended him, saying "I think Matt will be a fantastic cricketer for Sussex in the future but he is still young and learning his trade at the moment",[11][12] and then coach Mark Robinson said that: "This is Matt’s first full year as a professional and we rate him highly", and "in terms of his long-term future what happened in the Middlesex game could turn out to be brilliant for him as it helps mould who you are."[10] In the 2015 season, he took 21 wickets at an average of 47.30,[13] and his last appearance was in a List A match against Essex in August 2015.[13]

In total, Hobden played 18 first-class matches, three List A matches and one Twenty20 match,[14] and was selected as one of six fast bowlers selected for the Potential England Performance Programme (PEPP) in the winters of 2014/15 and 2015/16, working with the senior team.[13]

Death and tributes

Hobden died suddenly on 2 January 2016, aged 22,[13][15] in Forres, Scotland.[1] Initially the local police treated his death as unexplained, stating "Enquiries are at a very early stage but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances."[1] In May 2016 the investigation concluded, finding, according to newspaper reports, that "he was asleep on the roof of a mansion in Forres before tragically falling to his death. It is understood that with friends they had gone up on to the roof the previous evening to look at the stars."[16]

His death was announced by Sussex County Cricket Club, who said that "Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game."[17] Speaking after Hobden's death, England fast bowling coach Kevin Shine said, "his potential was huge. He was improving rapidly and I'm certain that he would have played for England", and about his performance on the PEPP that, "he was the strongest, most powerful cricketer I've ever seen on that programme".[13] The England Cricket Team official Facebook page posted, "we are shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Matthew Hobden. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and team-mates." Out of respect for Hobden, England players wore black armbands during the second day of the 2nd Test against South Africa on 3 January.[18][11] Angus Porter, head of the Professional Cricketers' Association described Hobden as "a young seamer with immense potential."[13] Sussex County Cricket Club announced that Hobden's shirt number (19) would be retired, and a tree would be planted at the County Ground in memory of Hobden.[19]

A police investigation into his death concluded in May 2016 with no further action or arrests.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c Meikle, James (3 January 2016). "Scottish police investigate death of Sussex cricketer Matthew Hobden". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Cardiff Met student and Sussex cricketer Matthew Hobden dies aged 22". Wales Online. Cardiff: Media Wales. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Keogh, Frank (3 January 2016). "Matthew Hobden: Tributes to 'gentle giant' Sussex bowler". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Warwickshire v Cardiff MCCU, 2012". CricketArchive. The Cricketer Publishing. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Injury blow for young Sussex bowler Matt Hobden". East Grinstead Courier. Local World. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  6. ^ "England fast bowler dies, aged 22". cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. AAP. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Matthew Hobden: Sussex seamer signs two-year contract". BBC Sport. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Matthew Hobden: Sussex seamer happy with Championship debut". BBC Sport. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. ^ Talbot, Bruce (2015). Booth, Lawrence (ed.). The Shorter Wisden 2015: The Best Writing from Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2015. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472915214.
  10. ^ a b Hollis, Steve (24 May 2015). "Hobden urged to seize his chance". The Argus. Brighton and Hove: Newsquest. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Tributes paid to Matthew Hobden after Sussex announce the tragic death of 22-year-old fast bowler". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Sussex mourn death of fast bowler Matthew Hobden aged 22". The Guardian. London. Associated Press. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Sussex bowler Matthew Hobden dies at the age of 22". BBC Sport. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Player profile: Matt Mobden". CricketArchive. The Cricketer Publishing. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Sussex cricketer Matthew Hobden dies aged 22". ESPNcricinfo. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Investigation concludes over death of Sussex cricket star Matt Hobden". The Argus.
  17. ^ "Matthew Hobden". Sussex County Cricket Club. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  18. ^ Khan, Shehab (3 January 2016). "Matthew Hobden dead: Sussex cricketer tipped for 'big future' dies at the age of 22". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Matthew Hobden: Service remembers young Sussex bowler". BBC News. 5 February 2016.
  20. ^ Imms, Adrian (23 May 2016). "Investigation concludes over death of Sussex cricket star Matt Hobden". The Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
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