Portal:Somerset/Selected biography/13
Herbie Hewett
B. 25 May 1864 – d. 4 March 1921
Herbert Tremenheere "Herbie" Hewett was an English cricketer who played for Somerset and was the county captain from 1889 to 1893. He also appeared for Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Hewett was educated at Harrow School, won a Blue at Oxford in 1886 and played for Somerset from 1884. As an inconsistent middle-order batsman he made little impact on the game during this period. However, in 1889 he was made captain of Somerset and as captain and opening batsman in 1889 and 1890 he was instrumental in the county gaining first-class status and admission to the County Championship in 1891. He remained as Somerset captain for a further three seasons, usually opening the batting with Lionel Palairet.
Hewett was a belligerent left-handed opening batsman who hit the ball with power, but was also inclined to be argumentative off the pitch. He had an excellent eye with an unorthodox style and was capable of demoralising the best bowling and running-up a good score in a very brief time. He tended to dominate the scoring while at the wicket and typically scored at about a run a minute. Although he only scored 7 first-class centuries in 4 of those he scored a hundred before lunch. (Full article...)