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Alec Hurwood

Alec Hurwood
Personal information
Full name
Alexander Hurwood
Born17 June 1902
Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died26 September 1982 (aged 80)
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-paced off-spin
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 135)12 December 1930 v West Indies
Last Test1 January 1931 v West Indies
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1925–26 to 1931–32Queensland
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 2 43
Runs scored 5 575
Batting average 2.50 11.27
100s/50s 0/0 0/3
Top score 5 89
Balls bowled 517 7864
Wickets 11 113
Bowling average 15.45 27.62
5 wickets in innings 0 5
10 wickets in match 0 1
Best bowling 4/22 6/80
Catches/stumpings 2/– 29/–
Source: Cricinfo, 29 April 2021

Alexander Hurwood (17 June 1902 – 26 September 1982), was an Australian cricketer who played in two Tests in the 1930-31 season.[1]

Hurwood was born in Brisbane and educated at Brisbane Grammar School.[2] Renowned for his odd bowling style – taking only a couple of steps before delivering the ball – Hurwood was a medium-paced off-spinner. He played several seasons for Queensland before being called up to the Australian Test team. He had his most successful season in 1929-30, taking 46 wickets at an average of 19.84.[3] He took 6 for 179 when Don Bradman made 452 not out in January 1930.[4] In his next match, two weeks later, Hurwood took his best figures of 6 for 80 against South Australia.[5]

Hurwood toured England with the Australian team in 1930 but did not get many opportunities and took only 28 wickets in 20 first-class matches, and did not play in any of the five Tests.[4] He played in the first two Tests against West Indies in 1930-31, taking 11 wickets, and was considered unlucky to be dropped in favour of bowlers returning to the team from injury.[6] He moved to Melbourne in 1932 and played no more first-class cricket.[4]

Hurwood served in World War II, first as an anti-aircraft gunner in the army from 1940 to 1942,[7] then as a flight lieutenant with the RAAF from 1942 to 1945.[8]

Hurwood and his wife Norma married in 1945 and had three children.[4] When he retired in 1973 they returned to Queensland.[4]

References

  1. ^ Alec Hurwood. espncricinfo.com
  2. ^ The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket, Oxford, Melbourne, 1996, p. 259.
  3. ^ "First-Class Bowling in Each Season by Alec Hurwood". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lynch, Steven. "The man who (almost) bowled Bradman". Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Brisbane, Jan 17 - 21 1930, Sheffield Shield". Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  6. ^ Wisden 1984, p. 1202.
  7. ^ "World War II Service (VX32116)". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. ^ "World War II Service (256628)". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2020.