A century on, the run scoring achievements of Jack Hobbs still take some believing. Richard Spiller looks back at Hobbs’ golden summer
Now aged 42, having returned from a long, arduous – and losing – Ashes series down under, Surrey’s opener might have been forgiven a modest return during the 1925 season, regathering his strength for the arrival of the Australians the next summer.
Instead, he scored more than 3000 runs in all cricket, including 16 centuries, and broke WG Grace’s record of 125 first-class tons amid his triumphant passage around the country.
Not that success had much effect on Hobbs, who remained the same modest, hard-working man despite the trappings of his fame, which would extend to owning his own sports shop in Fleet Street, having the gates at The Oval named after him and becoming the first professional cricketer to be knighted in 1953.
There were no Tests in 1925, so domestic cricket – the County Championship plus matches such as Gentlemen v Players and festivals – dominated the limelight.
Hobbs had already become the third player to make 100 first-class centuries, joining Grace and Tom Hayward, his first opening partner at Surrey and mentor, who had done much to bring the groundsman’s son from his home in Cambridge to The Oval.
He started the season with 113 centuries and was in prime form from the start, making a dozen more from his opening 27 first-class innings as Surrey made an excellent start to the Championship, winning their first four matches and being beaten only twice all summer – by Lancashire at Old Trafford and, crucially, defending champions Yorkshire at Bradford.
When Hobbs made 105 in a victory by an innings and 69 runs over Kent at Blackheath in mid-July, going level with Grace, the gathering hum of expectation turned into a frenzy.
But now he suffered a loss of form – scoring 252 runs from his next 10 knocks – which combined with poor midsummer weather meant the growing bandwagon of press and spectactors following him around the country were to be disappointed.
He admitted the expectation had an effect and six matches – over almost four weeks – went by before Surrey headed to Taunton to take on a modest Somerset side.
It had been against the same opponents, two years earlier at Bath, when Hobbs had scored his 100th first-class century and he underlined his liking for their attack once more.
Again there was a wait, the hosts being bowled out for 167 and Hobbs finishing the opening day – a Saturday – unbeaten on 91, then spending the rest day in his usual manner by attending two church services.
Taunton was packed by more than 6,000 spectators on Monday morning when play resumed, Hobbs taking three singles to get going again, then adding a boundary and a single off RC Robertson-Glasgow to reach 99.
It was another single, this time off Jim Bridges, which saw him beat Grace’s record, skipper Percy Fender adding to the celebrations by taking out what appeared to be a glass of champagne – it was actually ginger ale, given Hobbs was teetotal – with Wisden reporting that “so pronounced was the enthusiasm that the progress of the game was halted some minutes”.
While today’s followers would be able to follow the action online, communications then were rather more basic and Hobbs had to ask the Taunton groundsman to send his wife Ada, on holiday with their children in Margate, a telegram with the news.
It read: “Got it at last. Jack.”
Hobbs was soon out for 101 but had not finished with Somerset, who conceded a lead of 192. They were all out for 274 second time round, leaving Surrey needing 183 for victory.
This time a more relaxed Hobbs resembled the strokemaker of his pre-war days rather than his later pragmatic style, this time stroking an unbeaten 101, with Andy Sandham making 74no, in securing victory by 10 wickets.
Yet 14 wins in 26 matches were not enough to earn Surrey the title, finishing runners-up for the second time in five seasons, Yorkshire’s 21 victories in 32 games – it was down to counties to decide how many matches they should play – giving them a superior percentage rate and becoming the first county to win four years running.
It’s a feat Surrey equalled in 1955, going on to add three more in their domination of that decade.
Hobbs, who would play in only one Championship-winning side, in 1914, finished with 199 centuries and scored 61,760 first-class runs, indisputably earning his sobriquet “The Master”.
