Hampshire Cricket History

2013 will see the 150th anniversary of the formation of Hampshire County Cricket Club (August/September 1863).

The Blog has been rather quiet of late but starting tomorrow, I propose to post regular snippets year-by-year about those 150 years. Later in 2013 they will be brought together into a limited edition publication – more information will follow.

Happy New Year folks!

It’s been quite a morning for cricket historians with a Compton scoring a half century for England and Alastair Cook scoring his 23rd Test Century, thereby passing the record first set decades ago by Old Portmuthian Wally Hammond. Hammond was briefly at Portsmouth Grammar School after which he played in 85 Tests. Cook, enjoying the most wonderful run of form, is in his 86th and since he’s not yet 30, there be many more to come.

Cook’s average is around 50 per innings, Hammond’s was nearer to 60 and the older man was certainly superior in catching -averaging over one catch per match – and bowling, taking 83 Test wickets at 37.80 each and 732 first-class wickets. With the ball, he wasn’t quite Botham class but Hammond was one of the finest English all-rounders. Cook, despite his unassuming manner seems to be a great batsman – and perhaps destined to be one of the finest batsmen-captains?