Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, remarked, "Hobbs was the last specialist leg-spinner to play for England before Ian Salisbury revived the art in 1992. A good spinner of the ball although he lacked the googly, an inventive batsman and great character, he was an immensely popular cricketer".[1]
Leg spinners have proved a rarity in post-war English cricket, thanks in part to the rise of one day cricket, and Hobbs was the last specialist to play for England before the emergence of Ian Salisbury.
Hobbs was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire but after moving to Scotland for a period during the war he grew up in Dagenham in East London. A keen ornithologist, Robin collected tropical birds in an aviary that he built behind his father's shop. This notably included a toucan which he named Terry. He made his debut for Essex in 1961 and for England in 1967, but his well flighted leg breaks failed to discomfort Indian and Pakistani batsmen raised on spin. His batting was unregarded, making his 44-minute century against the touring Australians in 1975, all the more remarkable.[2]
After fourteen years with Essex, Hobbs retired to minor county cricket with Suffolk, before re-emerging four years later after being invited to captainGlamorgan. He was Glamorgan captain in 1979 (a year in which the county didn't win a first class match) then played two more seasons under the captaincy of Malcolm Nash. He returned to Suffolk for the 1982 season, then retired.
He was the last English leg spin bowler to take 1,000 first-class wickets in his career. In all he took 1,099 scalps, with a best of 8 for 63 at an average of 27.09. An economy rate of 2.86 is testament to his accuracy, while a strike rate of 56.7 ranks with any spinner of his generation.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcBateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 90. ISBN1-869833-21-X.
robin, hobbs, robin, nicholas, stuart, hobbs, born, 1942, former, english, cricketer, played, seven, tests, england, from, 1967, 1971, played, first, class, cricket, both, essex, glamorgan, personal, informationfull, namerobin, nicholas, stuart, hobbsborn, 194. Robin Nicholas Stuart Hobbs born 8 May 1942 1 is a former English cricketer who played in seven Tests for England from 1967 to 1971 He played first class cricket for both Essex and Glamorgan 1 Robin HobbsPersonal informationFull nameRobin Nicholas Stuart HobbsBorn 1942 05 08 8 May 1942 age 81 Chippenham Wiltshire EnglandBattingRight handedBowlingLegbreak googlyInternational informationNational sideEnglandTest debut8 June 1967 v IndiaLast Test8 July 1971 v PakistanCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 7 440Runs scored 34 4 942Batting average 6 79 12 11100s 50s 0 0 2 2Top score 15 100Balls bowled 1 291 62 395Wickets 12 1 099Bowling average 40 08 27 095 wickets in innings 0 5010 wickets in match 0 8Best bowling 3 25 8 63Catches stumpings 8 295 Source CricInfo 7 November 2022Cricket writer Colin Bateman remarked Hobbs was the last specialist leg spinner to play for England before Ian Salisbury revived the art in 1992 A good spinner of the ball although he lacked the googly an inventive batsman and great character he was an immensely popular cricketer 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksLife and career EditLeg spinners have proved a rarity in post war English cricket thanks in part to the rise of one day cricket and Hobbs was the last specialist to play for England before the emergence of Ian Salisbury Hobbs was born in Chippenham Wiltshire but after moving to Scotland for a period during the war he grew up in Dagenham in East London A keen ornithologist Robin collected tropical birds in an aviary that he built behind his father s shop This notably included a toucan which he named Terry He made his debut for Essex in 1961 and for England in 1967 but his well flighted leg breaks failed to discomfort Indian and Pakistani batsmen raised on spin His batting was unregarded making his 44 minute century against the touring Australians in 1975 all the more remarkable 2 After fourteen years with Essex Hobbs retired to minor county cricket with Suffolk before re emerging four years later after being invited to captain Glamorgan He was Glamorgan captain in 1979 a year in which the county didn t win a first class match then played two more seasons under the captaincy of Malcolm Nash He returned to Suffolk for the 1982 season then retired He was the last English leg spin bowler to take 1 000 first class wickets in his career In all he took 1 099 scalps with a best of 8 for 63 at an average of 27 09 An economy rate of 2 86 is testament to his accuracy while a strike rate of 56 7 ranks with any spinner of his generation References Edit a b c Bateman Colin 1993 If The Cap Fits Tony Williams Publications p 90 ISBN 1 869833 21 X Cricinfo Fastest to 50 100 200 Further reading EditRob Kelly Hobbsy A Life in Cricket Von Krumm Publishing 2018External links EditRobin Hobbs at ESPNcricinfo The other Hobbs the last of his line Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robin Hobbs amp oldid 1156712394, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
