Denys Hobson
Encyclopedia
Denys Laurence Hobson born 3 September 1951 in Port Elizabeth) is a former South Africa
n first class cricketer. Hobson played as a right-handed batsman and legbreak bowler for Eastern Province
and Western Province. His career lasted from 1970-71 to 1984-85.
Educated at Kingswood, he played for Eastern Province in the Nuffield week from 1970 to 1971. He represented South African schools in 1971. He furthered his studies at Rhodes University
and played for S.A. Universities in 1972 and 1973.
Regarded by many as South Africa's best legbreak bowler, before, during and after the years of isolation, he was invited to play in World Series Cricket
in Australia
in 1977. Because he was an amateur player, for political reasons he was not allowed to play. Graeme Pollock
who joined Hobson on this trip, suffered the same fate. Hobson played in a 105 first class matches, taking 374 wickets at an average of 27.52. He maintained a strike rate of 59.1 balls per wicket. In 90 Currie Cup matches he took 319 wickets.
He played for South Africa in four unofficial "Tests"
during the Apartheid years and was South African cricketer of the year in 1975.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n first class cricketer. Hobson played as a right-handed batsman and legbreak bowler for Eastern Province
Eastern Province cricket team
Eastern Province cricket team is the team representing the Eastern Province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 1988–89, 1991–92; shared - 1989–90* Standard Bank Cup - 1989–90, 1991–92...
and Western Province. His career lasted from 1970-71 to 1984-85.
Educated at Kingswood, he played for Eastern Province in the Nuffield week from 1970 to 1971. He represented South African schools in 1971. He furthered his studies at Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
and played for S.A. Universities in 1972 and 1973.
Regarded by many as South Africa's best legbreak bowler, before, during and after the years of isolation, he was invited to play in World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket was a break away professional cricket competition staged between 1977 and 1979 and organised by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network, Nine Network. The matches ran in opposition to established international cricket...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1977. Because he was an amateur player, for political reasons he was not allowed to play. Graeme Pollock
Graeme Pollock
Robert Graeme Pollock, known as Graeme, is a former cricketer. He played in 23 Test matches for South Africa and represented Transvaal and Eastern Province at domestic level....
who joined Hobson on this trip, suffered the same fate. Hobson played in a 105 first class matches, taking 374 wickets at an average of 27.52. He maintained a strike rate of 59.1 balls per wicket. In 90 Currie Cup matches he took 319 wickets.
He played for South Africa in four unofficial "Tests"
South African rebel tours
The South African rebel tours were a series of seven cricket tours staged between 1982 and 1990. They were known as the rebel tours because South Africa was throughout this period banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime...
during the Apartheid years and was South African cricketer of the year in 1975.
External links
- Denys Hobson at Cricinfo