Lives in Cricket No 38 - Lionel Robinson

77 The visit of the Australians In 1921 it is implicit in his coverage of this match that Old Buckenham was an unworthy scene for an innings that Jack Hobbs himself thought might have been the best of his life. 57 Len Hart, who had helped organise the fixture, accommodated the professionals Jack Hobbs and Patsy Hendren during the match and, many years later, Hobbs confirmed to Hart that his unbeaten 85 was indeed one of the high points of his career, stating that: ‘They made me fight for every run.’ Similarly, in an interview given to The Times in 1952, Hobbs was quoted as saying: ‘I was playing at my best form. I always think that I hit the real height of my abilities. Everything came off. There were some good bowlers and all my shots I kept middling, everything in the middle of the bat.’ At the time, Warwick Armstrong regarded this innings as one of the best played against his side during the whole tour; that he did not feel inclined to put himself on to bowl at all remains something of a mystery, but he might have observed how Hobbs had made a complete mockery of the bowling of Armstrong’s fellow- spinner Arthur Mailey and thought better of it. The majestic display only ended when Hobbs had to retire hurt, having made 85 of the first 125 runs. He re-aggravated the strain of a thigh muscle which he had originally damaged in Australia the previous winter; Jupp stated that he could hear the tissue snap as they stole a quick single. ‘The Master’ was helped back to the pavilion, clearly in great pain. Jupp continued to bat until the close; partnered by Hendren he took the score to 156 for one at close. When compared to the batting of Hobbs, the contribution of Jupp has tended to be overlooked, but his innings of 59 was also skilfully compiled and of great merit. His thumb (or possibly a finger) had taken a battering from the Australian pace attack and he 57 Indeed Mason sees this match as important only in the fact that Jack Hobbs suffered the serious injury which ruled him out of the first two Tests; going so far as to state: ‘What became of the match after [Hobbs’ injury], nobody cares.’ To an extent, Haigh takes a similar view. Jack Hobbs faces Ted McDonald. (Sydney Smith collection, State Library of NSW)