Denys Hobson

Not to be confused with Denys Hobson (cricketer, born 1983).

Denys Hobson

Personal information
Born	(1951-09-03) 3 September 1951 Port Elizabeth, Cape Province
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm legbreak, googly
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1970/71–1984/85	Eastern Province
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A Matches 105 18 Runs scored 1,251 105 Batting average 13.30 13.12 100s/50s 0/2 0/0 Top score 61 27* Balls bowled 22,119 875 Wickets 374 17 Bowling average 27.52 26.35 5 wickets in innings 22 1 10 wickets in match 6 0 Best bowling 9/64 7/27 Catches/stumpings 47/– 3/–
Source: CricInfo, 18 January 2020

Denys Laurence Hobson (born 3 September 1951) is a former South African 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. He was born at Port Elizabeth in 1951.

Educated at Kingswood College, Hobson 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 South African 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.

External links

• Denys Hobson at ESPNcricinfo