Lindsay Hassett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lindsay Hassett
MBE

Hassett in 1949
Personal information
Full name	Arthur Lindsay Hassett
Born	(1913-08-28)28 August 1913 Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Died	16 June 1993(1993-06-16) (aged 79) Batehaven, New South Wales, Australia
Height	168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Role	Middle-order batsman
Relations	Dick Hassett (brother) John Shaw (nephew)
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 161)	10 June 1938 v England
Last Test	15 August 1953 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1932/33–1952/53	Victoria
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 43 216 Runs scored 3,073 16,890 Batting average 46.56 58.24 100s/50s 10/11 59/75 Top score 198* 232 Balls bowled 111 1,316 Wickets 0 18 Bowling average – 39.05 5 wickets in innings – 0 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling – 2/10 Catches/stumpings 30/0 170/0
Source: Cricinfo, 4 December 2007

Arthur Lindsay Hassett (28 August 1913 – 16 June 1993) was an Australian cricketer. He played for the Victoria state team and the Australian national team. Lindsay Hassett was a skilled middle-order batsman. He was known for his elegant playing style. Wisden, a famous cricket guide, said he was a "master of nearly every stroke." His great timing and strong wrists made batting look easy.

Hassett showed his talent early in school. However, it took him a few seasons to become a regular player in first-class cricket. He joined the Australian team for their 1938 tour of England. Even though he had only scored one century before, he quickly made three centuries in a row on that tour. He helped Australia win a key match against England, which meant Australia kept the Ashes trophy.

World War II stopped Hassett's cricket career for a while. He joined the army and served in the Middle East and New Guinea. After the war, he led the Australian Services cricket team in England. This team played special "Victory Tests" to help bring cricket back. Hassett was the only player with Test experience, but his team surprised everyone by drawing the series 2–2. His leadership was very important for the team's success.

When Test cricket started again, Hassett became a more careful player. He was Don Bradman's vice-captain for three series, including the famous Invincibles tour in 1948. After Bradman retired, Hassett became the Australian captain in 1949. He led Australia to many wins, including a 4–0 victory in South Africa and a 4–1 win over England at home. In 24 matches as captain, he won 14 times and lost only four. In 1953, his team lost The Ashes to England, ending Australia's long winning streak. Hassett retired after this series at age 40. He was known for his cheerful personality, sense of humor, and diplomatic skills. In 2003, he was added to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Cricket Start

Lindsay Hassett was the youngest of nine children. He was born on August 28, 1913, in Newtown, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria. His father, Edward, was a real estate agent and a keen club cricketer. Lindsay and his brothers played cricket in their backyard. Lindsay looked up to the famous Test batsman Bill Ponsford.

Lindsay went to Geelong College. He joined the school's top cricket team at age 14. In five years, he scored 2,335 runs and was captain for three years. He even scored 245 runs in one game against Scotch College. He also led the school's football team and won a state tennis championship. His older brother, Richard, also played cricket for Victoria.

First-Class Cricket Debut

While still at school, Hassett played for the South Melbourne team in 1930–31. A month later, he scored 147 not out for a Victorian country team against the touring West Indies. He made his first-class debut for Victoria in February 1933. However, he struggled at first, scoring only 25 runs in four innings. He was not picked for the next two seasons.

In 1935–36, Hassett returned to the team. He became a consistent scorer, making 212 runs with two half-centuries. The next season, he was Victoria's best batsman, scoring 503 runs at an average of 71.85. He made seven half-centuries in a row, helping Victoria win the Sheffield Shield title.

In 1937–38, Hassett scored 693 first-class runs. He finally made his first century, scoring 127 not out against New Zealand at the MCG. Despite having only one century, he was chosen for Australia's 1938 tour of England.

First Test Match Experience

Hassett (left) with Ernie McCormick at the SCG in the late 1930s

Hassett quickly proved his selection was a good choice. He started the England tour with scores of 43, 146, 148, and 220 not out. Australia won its first four matches easily. He continued to score well, making 57 and 98 in later games.

He made his Test debut in the first match of the series at Nottingham. It was a tough start for Hassett, as he scored only one and two runs. The match was a high-scoring draw. He continued his good form in county games, scoring 118 against Lancashire. In the Second Test at Lord's, he scored 56 and 42 in another drawn match.

The Third Test was cancelled due to rain. Hassett prepared for the important Fourth Test by scoring 94 and 127 in other matches. The Fourth Test at Headingley was Australia's only win of the series. This win was enough to keep The Ashes. Australia needed only 105 runs to win. They were struggling at 3 wickets for 50 runs when Hassett came to bat. A storm was coming, which could have made batting very difficult. Hassett calmly scored 33 runs from 36 balls, guiding Australia to a five-wicket victory. His captain, Don Bradman, was so nervous he couldn't watch. This innings showed Hassett's ability to stay calm under pressure.

After this match-winning innings, Hassett didn't score as well in the next few games. Australia lost the Fifth Test by a huge margin. Despite his struggles in the Tests, Hassett finished the tour with 1,589 runs at an average of 52.97. Wisden noted that his Test performances were unusual given his overall success on the tour.

Rivalry with Bill O'Reilly

After his experience in England, Hassett had a great 1938–39 season. He scored five centuries in nine matches, ending with 967 runs at an average of 74.38. This included two centuries against South Australia, whose team had Clarrie Grimmett, a world-record holder for Test wickets.

Hassett became known for his battles with Bill O'Reilly, Australia's top bowler. O'Reilly admitted that Hassett played his bowling better than anyone else. Hassett could read O'Reilly's tricky "wrong 'un" (a type of spin delivery) and would step forward to hit the ball. The two players were very different. O'Reilly was tall and serious, while Hassett was smaller and calm. Hassett sometimes even teased O'Reilly, which few other batsmen dared to do. Once, when Hassett kept missing O'Reilly's bowling, O'Reilly asked if his bat had a middle. Hassett replied, "I don't need one with you, Tige."

In the 1939–40 season, Hassett scored 122 runs in both innings of a match against O'Reilly's New South Wales team. He was the only player to score two centuries in a match against a team with O'Reilly. Hassett continued his strong form, ending the season with 897 runs. He was only dismissed by O'Reilly three times in first-class matches.

War Years and the Services Team

Hassett during the Second World War

On September 23, 1940, Hassett joined the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He still played four first-class matches in the 1940–41 season, scoring 384 runs. He was then sent to the Middle East in 1941. He was stationed in Haifa, in what is now Israel. Hassett was popular in the army for his cheerful spirit. He led an AIF cricket team against other British Empire teams in Egypt and Palestine.

After the war in Europe ended in 1945, Hassett was chosen to lead the Australian Services cricket team on a tour of England. This team was officially a military unit. They played 64 matches in nine months across four countries. The most important matches were the "Victory Tests" against England. Australian cricket officials did not count these as official Test matches because Hassett was the only player with Test experience. Most people expected England to win easily.

However, Australia surprisingly drew the series 2–2. Hassett wrote that these games showed "international cricket can be played as between real friends." The series was a huge success, with many fans watching the exciting, attacking play. Hassett scored 277 runs in the five Victory Tests.

Journey to India

Because the Victory Tests were so successful, the Australian government asked the team to delay going home. They were told to travel through India and Ceylon to raise money for the Red Cross. Hassett had more success on the India tour, but the team faced challenges. Most of their matches were against strong teams, and some players felt the local umpires were unfair.

The team also faced difficulties with travel and illness. Many players got food poisoning and dysentery. They had long, bumpy train journeys. The airmen in the team wanted to fly, but Hassett and the manager refused at first. There was some tension, but eventually, a plane was arranged.

In a match against the Prince's XI in Delhi, Hassett scored 187 and 124 not out. In another match in Calcutta, pro-independence rioters invaded the pitch. East Zone batsman Denis Compton told the rioters to talk to Hassett. Hassett calmly asked the leader for a cigarette, which helped to calm the situation, and play resumed.

Australia struggled in the three matches against India. Hassett scored 53 in the first match and 143 in the third. However, Australia did not win any of their seven matches in India. Hassett scored 57 as Australia beat Ceylon before returning home in December. The players were very tired after almost a year of continuous cricket.

Post-War Cricket Career

When Hassett's team returned to Australia, they were ordered to play another series against the Australian states. This was to help cricket restart after the war and prepare for a tour of New Zealand. Hassett could not play for Victoria that season. The Services team did not play well, losing to Victoria and New South Wales. Hassett finished the Australian summer with 312 runs.

Based on his performance, Hassett was chosen for the Australian team's short tour of New Zealand in 1946. There was talk that he might be captain, as Bradman was not playing. However, Bill Brown was made captain. Hassett scored centuries against Auckland (121) and Wellington (143). He scored 19 in the one-off match against New Zealand, which Australia won easily. Hassett scored 351 runs at an average of 70.20 on the tour.

Playing a Steady Role

The next season, Hassett became captain of Victoria for the first time. He scored well in warm-up matches against the touring MCC team. When Bradman decided to play again as Test captain, Hassett was appointed vice-captain.

In the First Test at Brisbane, Hassett scored his first Test century, making 128 runs. He shared a huge 276-run partnership with Bradman. Even though the crowd sometimes criticized his slow scoring, Hassett played a vital "anchoring" role, supporting Bradman. Australia won the match by a large margin. Hassett scored 34 in the Second Test, which Australia also won. In the Third Test at his home ground, the MCG, he scored only 12 and 9.

Hassett's other important innings was 78 in the drawn Fourth Test at Adelaide. He added 189 runs with Arthur Morris. Hassett finished the series with 332 runs at an average of 47.43. He struggled against the leg spinner Doug Wright, who dismissed him five times.

Despite his slow scoring in the Tests, Hassett was very aggressive in the Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria. He scored 200 against Queensland and 190 against New South Wales. Victoria won both matches against their rivals and secured the Sheffield Shield title. Hassett had a very productive season, scoring 1,213 runs.

In 1947–48, India toured Australia for the first time. Australia won the series 4–0. Hassett scored 80 in the Third Test and his highest Test score, 198 not out, in the Fourth Test. He finished the series with 332 runs at an average of 110.67. He was rested for the final Test. He continued his strong form for Victoria, scoring 118 and 204. He ended the season with 893 runs.

The Invincibles Tour

In 1948, Hassett was Bradman's vice-captain for the tour of England. This team became known as The Invincibles because they went undefeated in all 34 matches. This was a remarkable achievement. Hassett led the team in nine matches when Bradman was resting. Under Hassett, Australia won seven of these games.

Hassett had a good start to the tour before the Tests. He scored 110 against Surrey and two half-centuries. One of these was 51 against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord's. This was a strong team with many future England Test players.

In the First Test at Trent Bridge, Hassett came to bat with Australia at 4 wickets for 185 runs. He and Bradman were criticized for slow scoring, but they stayed calm. Hassett reached his first Test century in England. He then sped up, scoring 37 more runs in 49 minutes before being dismissed for 137. He shared a 107-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Australia took a big lead and won the match.

Hassett scored 47 and a duck in the Second Test at Lord's, which Australia won. In the Third Test at Old Trafford, Hassett made 38. He also dropped two catches. Luckily, these missed chances did not cost Australia the game, which ended in a draw due to rain.

In the Fourth Test, Hassett opened the batting with Morris because Sid Barnes was injured. Hassett struggled in this new role, scoring 13 and 17. However, other Australian batsmen scored many runs. Australia chased a world-record target of 404 runs on the final day to win the match. This gave them an unbeatable 3–0 lead in the series. Hassett finished the series with 310 runs at an average of 44.29.

After the Tests, Hassett was in great form, scoring three centuries in a row. He made 200 not out against the Gentlemen of England at Lord's, 103 against Somerset, and 151 against the South of England. He finished the first-class matches with 1,563 runs and seven centuries. He was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1949. Wisden praised his playing ability, cheerfulness, and leadership.

Captain of Australia

After Bradman retired, Hassett was expected to become the next Australian captain. His main rival was Arthur Morris. The season started with Bradman's farewell match, where Hassett led a team against Bradman's team. Hassett scored 35 and 102, and the match ended in a tie. Hassett continued his good scoring against Queensland, making 104 and 205.

The Australian team for the tour of South Africa was chosen. Hassett was selected as captain by a close vote. Some officials had concerns about his religion, as he was Catholic. However, he became the first Catholic captain since 1888.

The team was different from the Invincibles. Bradman had retired, and other key players were unavailable. Hassett led his team through South Africa undefeated, winning the Test series 4–0. He scored 889 first-class runs on the tour, including four centuries.

Test Series Victories

The first Test began on Christmas Eve 1949. Hassett scored 112 runs, helping Australia recover from a poor start. Australia won the match by an innings. He then scored 57 in the Second Test, which Australia won by eight wickets.

In the Third Test, rain made the pitch very difficult for batting. Hassett used clever tactics to keep South Africa batting on the bad surface. He even told his bowlers to bowl badly so South Africa wouldn't realize how difficult the pitch was and declare. Despite this, South Africa was bowled out, and Australia won a very unlikely victory.

Hassett's perfect record as Test captain ended in the Fourth Test, which was a high-scoring draw. He then scored 167 in the final Test, which Australia won by an innings.

Hassett was seen as an excellent leader. He was good at public appearances and speeches. He encouraged his players to take part in local cultural activities. The Australian High Commission called him the most effective Australian diplomat to visit South Africa.

Success at Home

Hassett started the 1950–51 season well, scoring 113 and 179 in matches for Victoria before the Tests. The England team had a poor start to their tour. In the First Test, Australia was bowled out for 228. However, rain made the pitch difficult for England. Hassett made a bold decision to declare Australia's second innings at 7 wickets for 32 runs, setting England 193 to win. Australia won the match by 70 runs. Hassett scored 127 and 28 not out against Queensland between Tests.

In the Second Test, Hassett scored 52, helping Australia win another low-scoring match. Australia won the Third Test by an innings, taking an unbeatable 3–0 lead. Before the final Test, Hassett scored 232 for Victoria against England. In the Fifth Test, he top-scored with 92. Australia lost this match, which was their first Test defeat since World War II.

Hassett was the second-highest run-scorer in the series, with 366 runs. He ended the first-class season with 1,423 runs, topping the scoring charts. Victoria won another Sheffield Shield title under his leadership.

In 1951–52, Australia played the West Indies. Hassett struggled at first against the West Indian leg spinner Sonny Ramadhin. He was dismissed twice by Ramadhin in the First Test. However, he learned to read Ramadhin's bowling and scored 132 and 46 not out in the Second Test. This century was part of a record 235-run partnership with Keith Miller.

Hassett missed the Third Test due to injury, and Australia lost. He returned for the Fourth Test and scored 102. Australia won a very close match by three wickets. Australia won the series 4–1. Hassett was the leading run-scorer with 402 runs. He ended the season with 855 runs.

Losing the Ashes

In 1952–53, South Africa toured Australia. Australia won the first game, but South Africa won the Second Test, their first Test victory over Australia in 41 years. Hassett's form was not as good, scoring only 76 runs in five innings. In the Fourth Test, he scored 163. Australia was close to winning the series, but injuries to key bowlers meant they had to settle for a draw.

For the final Test, Australian selectors rested two key bowlers. Hassett scored 40 and 30. South Africa fought back and won the match, drawing the series 2–2. This was the first time in 20 years Australia had not won a home Test series. Wisden called it "the biggest cricket shock for many years."

Hassett announced that the 1953 tour of England would be his last. Australia faced bad weather and injuries early in the tour. Hassett struggled in the first few matches but then scored 108 not out against Sussex.

In the First Test, Hassett scored 115 in a drawn match. In the Second Test at Lord's, he scored 104, despite being injured. England took a small lead, but Australia held on for a draw. The Third Test was also affected by rain and ended in a draw.

In the Fourth Test, Australia was in a position to win and keep the Ashes. Hassett scored 37. England used very defensive tactics, making it hard for Australia to score. The match ended in a draw. This meant the Ashes would be decided in the final match.

In the Fifth Test at The Oval, Hassett scored 53 and 10. Australia was bowled out for low scores by England's spinners. England won the match by eight wickets, claiming the Ashes for the first time since 1932–33. Hassett played well in the remaining tour matches, scoring three more centuries. Despite the loss, Hassett's leadership was praised.

Hassett played one final first-class match in Australia, a testimonial game. He scored 126 in the first innings, his last century. He retired with more first-class centuries than any Australian except Bradman.

Playing Style and Personality

Lindsay Hassett was a smaller player but very elegant. He was known for his wide range of shots, good timing, quick footwork, and strong wrists. As his career went on, especially after World War II, he became a more careful batsman. This sometimes frustrated fans who wanted him to score faster. However, he remained an aggressive player for Victoria.

Hassett had a "poker face," which helped him as a captain. Even his teammates sometimes couldn't tell what he was thinking. As captain, he won 14 of his 24 Test matches and lost only four. He was a very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler, taking 18 wickets in 216 first-class matches. He never took a wicket in Test matches.

Hassett was famous for his fun-loving personality. He loved playing practical jokes and had a great sense of humor. He was known for his self-deprecating jokes. For example, after losing his last Test match, he joked that England "earned the victory from the very first ball—to the second last over anyway," referring to an over he bowled when defeat was certain.

Humorous Moments

During the 1938 tour of England, Hassett once put a mountain goat into the bedroom he shared with teammates Stan McCabe and O'Reilly. The goat was "wet, muddy, and complaining." In 1948, he brought a toy duck into the dressing room. He also once hid the ball in a pile of sawdust during a county match, stopping play.

Another time, after dropping two catches in a Test match, Hassett borrowed a policeman's helmet. He then signaled to Ray Lindwall to bowl another fast ball. On the 1953 tour, a waiter spilled dessert on Hassett's jacket. Hassett silently pointed to a spot on his trousers, took them off, and handed them to the waiter. He then continued eating his meal in his underpants!

Beyond his humor, Hassett was known for his diplomatic skills. He was very good at making friends with hosts and the public when representing Australia overseas. Teammate Keith Miller said Hassett had "more genuine friends in all walks of life than any other cricketer."

Life After Cricket

After World War II, Hassett ran a sports store in Melbourne. One of his staff members was fellow Test cricketer Neil Harvey. After retiring from cricket, Hassett became a radio commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1956. He worked there until 1981. He often made fun of his own careful batting style during his commentary. He was not a fan of some modern cricket changes, especially the more aggressive player behavior.

Hassett was also involved in the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria. In 1942, he married Tessie Davis, and they had two daughters. His nephew John Shaw also played cricket for Victoria. The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) has a function room named after Hassett. The Victorian Cricket Association also has a club named in his honor, which raises money for junior cricket.

In his later years, Hassett moved to Batehaven in New South Wales to enjoy fishing. He passed away there in 1993.

Test Match Performance

		Batting				Bowling
Opposition	Matches	Runs	Average	High Score	100 / 50	Runs	Wickets	Average	Best (Inns)
England	24	1,572	38.34	137	4/6	60	0	–	–
India	4	332	110.66	198*	1/1	–	–	–	–
New Zealand	1	19	19.00	19	0/0	–	–	–	–
South Africa	10	748	53.42	167	3/3	18	0	–	–
West Indies	4	402	57.42	132	2/1	–	–	–	–
Overall	43	3,073	46.56	198*	10/11	78	0	–	–