Alec Hurwood

Alec Hurwood
Personal information
Full name	Alexander Hurwood
Born	17 June 1902; Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died	26 September 1982 (aged 80); Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-paced off-spin
International information
National side	Australia;
Test debut (cap 135)	12 December 1930 v West Indies
Last Test	1 January 1931 v West Indies
Domestic team information
1925–26 to 1931–32	Queensland
Career statistics
	Source: Cricinfo, 29 April 2021

Alexander Hurwood (17 June 1902 – 26 September 1982), was an Australian cricketer who played in two Tests in the 1930-31 season.^[1]

Hurwood was born in Brisbane and educated at Brisbane Grammar School.^[2] Renowned for his odd bowling style – taking only a couple of steps before delivering the ball – Hurwood was a medium-paced off-spinner. He played several seasons for Queensland before being called up to the Australian Test team. He had his most successful season in 1929-30, taking 46 wickets at an average of 19.84.^[3] He took 6 for 179 when Don Bradman made 452 not out in January 1930.^[4] In his next match, two weeks later, Hurwood took his best figures of 6 for 80 against South Australia.^[5]

Hurwood toured England with the Australian team in 1930 but did not get many opportunities and took only 28 wickets in 20 first-class matches, and did not play in any of the five Tests.^[4] He played in the first two Tests against West Indies in 1930-31, taking 11 wickets, and was considered unlucky to be dropped in favour of bowlers returning to the team from injury.^[6] He moved to Melbourne in 1932 and played no more first-class cricket.^[4]

Hurwood served in World War II, first as an anti-aircraft gunner in the army from 1940 to 1942,^[7] then as a flight lieutenant with the RAAF from 1942 to 1945.^[8]

Hurwood and his wife Norma married in 1945 and had three children.^[4] When he retired in 1973 they returned to Queensland.^[4]

References

^ Alec Hurwood. espncricinfo.com
^ The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket, Oxford, Melbourne, 1996, p. 259.
^ "First-Class Bowling in Each Season by Alec Hurwood". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lynch, Steven. "The man who (almost) bowled Bradman". Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^ "Brisbane, Jan 17 - 21 1930, Sheffield Shield". Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^ Wisden 1984, p. 1202.
^ "World War II Service (VX32116)". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
^ "World War II Service (256628)". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2020.