Page "Jack Hobbs" Paragraph 43

As everything depended on the final game, the Imperial Cricket Conference agreed to a request that the match be played to a finish with time no object.

The England selectors, conscious that the team had not beaten Australia in a series for 14 years, and had won just once in 19 Tests since 1920, made several changes.

Carr was replaced as captain by Percy Chapman, a decision which proved enormously controversial in the press but of which Hobbs approved ; Rhodes was also recalled to the team, aged 48.

Amid huge public interest and excitement, Hobbs and Sutcliffe shared an opening stand of 53 on the first day, but after both sides had batted once, the match was evenly balanced at the end of the second day.

Overnight rain seriously damaged the pitch before the third morning ; batting became extremely difficult, and few critics — including members of the England team — expected England to score many runs.

Instead, Hobbs and Sutcliffe, who had scored 49 on the second evening, began to bat confidently before the effects of a hot sun drying a damp pitch made batting even more hazardous.

Concentrating on careful defence, but scoring where possible, the pair added 172 in total.

Commentators praised the skilful defence of both batsmen, Hobbs in particular.

Immediately after reaching 100, Hobbs was out and received a prolonged ovation from the crowd.

Many critics believed that, given the conditions, match situation and pressure, this was the greatest innings of Hobbs ' career.

England continued batting to build up a large lead and bowled Australia out to win the Ashes.

Late in the season, Hobbs made the highest score of his career, 316 not out for Surrey against Middlesex at Lord's, establishing a record individual innings for Lord's which survived until 1990.

In total, Hobbs scored 2, 949 runs at 77. 60, including 12 centuries.

This placed him at the head of the national batting averages.