George Hirst

George Herbert Hirst (7 September 1871 - 10 May 1954) was one of the finest all-round cricketers of cricket's Golden Age, and though he tended to disappoint for England, for his county he was prolific with both bat and ball; Lord Hawke, his captain at Yorkshire, reckoned him the greatest of all county cricketers. He was the only man to do the "double double" of scoring 2000 runs and taking 200 wickets in a season, which feat he achieved in 1906, and when asked whether this record would ever be broken replied, "I don't know, but whoever does it will be very tired".

George Herbert, as he was known, became one of the first swing bowlers aropund turn of the century, hence his greater successes as a wicket taker, after starting as a "straight up and downer", reducing his pace somewhat to fast medium. When conditions were right - he liked a breeze blowing from the direction of third man - it was said to be like batting to a good throw from cover point. Like his Yorkshire compatriot Fred Trueman, his action lead to a natural outswinger, though as a left hander, this was an inswinger to the majority of batsmen. After retirment from active cricket he became a highly respected coach at Harrow School and for Yorkshire. Like Wilfird (correct spelling - not a "typo"!) Rhodes he bowled left but batted right handed; the "Hirst and Rhodes Pavillion" at the Kirkheaton cricket club ground was known locally as having a foundation stone "laid by left-handed bricklayers"!

Born in Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Hirst made his first-class debut in 1891, and his Yorkshire career lasted until 1921. He managed the conventional "double" of 1000 runs and 100 wickets on no less than fourteen occasions, second only to Wilfred Rhodes. He passed 2000 runs on three occasions, including in 1905 when he made 341 against Leicestershire, a score that remains a record for the county.

Hirst's Test career lasted from 1897/98 to 1909, and in 1902 at The Oval he stood firm in a last-wicket partnership with Rhodes to win the match against Australia, but he never made a century at this level. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1901.

After eight years away from the game, Hirst made a single further appearance for Yorkshire against MCC in September 1929, when he had just turned 58. He died at his home in Huddersfield at the age of 82.

External link

• Cricinfo page on George Hirst