Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks,
Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
22nd, 23rd & 24th March 2024
Lot 443
Estimate: £4000/6000
Hammer: unsold
John Berry ‘Jack’ Hobbs, Surrey & England 1905-1934. A Summers Brown ‘Force’ cricket bat used by Jack Hobbs in making 154no for the Players versus the Gentlemen at Lord’s in 1911. The face of the bat has the standard Summers Brown wording impressed to it and below this is the signature of Hobbs. Beneath this are the following words inscribed in ink ‘Record Force Bat. Gents v Players, Lord’s 1911. J.B. Hobbs went in first with this bat and played right through the innings scoring 154 not out constituting a record. This bat has scored over 1000 runs’. To the back of the bat on the right shoulder is the faded signature of ‘J.B. Hobbs’, still legible. The bat was presented to G.E. Sutton, the Managing Director of Summers Brown & Co by Hobbs, soon after its use. It was then displayed at the factory. In due course it was sold at auction by Sutton’s grandson. Wisden described Hobbs innings as his best innings of the season. Sold with the late vendors research notes giving further information on the bat. Good original condition
Jack Hobbs was probably the finest batsman of all time, he played for Surrey between 1905-1934 and played 834 first class matches. He scored over 61,700 at an average of 50.70 with 199 centuries, incredibly ninety eight of them were scored after his fortieth birthday, and a highest score of 316 v Middlesex in 1926. For England he made 61 Test appearances for England scoring over 5,400 runs at an average of 56.74 with a best of 211 v South Africa in 1924.
In the match the players were left to score 423 runs in 290 minutes to win the match in the fourth innings. On a very difficult pitch and facing the bowling of Foster, Douglas and Le Couteur, Hobbs reached 154not out before his team were all out for 292. His innings included 24 fours. The Gentlemen won by 130 runs
In the match the players were left to score 423 runs in 290 minutes to win the match in the fourth innings. On a very difficult pitch and facing the bowling of Foster, Douglas and Le Couteur, Hobbs reached 154not out before his team were all out for 292. His innings included 24 fours. The Gentlemen won by 130 runs