151 Facts About Herbert Sutcliffe

Herbert Sutcliffe was an English professional cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England as an opening batsman.

Herbert Sutcliffe was the first cricketer to score 16 centuries in Test match cricket.

Herbert Sutcliffe is most famous for being the partner of Jack Hobbs and the partnership between the two, Hobbs and Sutcliffe, is widely regarded as the greatest partnership of all time.

Herbert Sutcliffe's fame rests mainly in the great opening partnership he formed with Jack Hobbs for England between 1924 and 1930.

Herbert Sutcliffe formed notable opening partnerships at Yorkshire with Percy Holmes and, in his last few seasons, the young Len Hutton.

Herbert Sutcliffe played in 54 Test matches for England and on three occasions he toured Australia, where he enjoyed outstanding success.

In statistical terms, Herbert Sutcliffe was one of the most successful Test batsmen ever; his completed career batting average was 60.73 which is the highest by any English batsman and the fifth-highest worldwide behind only Don Bradman, Adam Voges, Graeme Pollock and George Headley.

Herbert Sutcliffe became a successful businessman early in his first-class career by using the money he earned as a player to establish a sportswear shop in Leeds.

Herbert Sutcliffe was born in Summerbridge, Nidderdale, West Riding of Yorkshire on 24 November 1894 at his parents' home, a cottage in Gabblegate.

Herbert Sutcliffe was the second of three sons, his brothers being Arthur and Bob.

Willie Herbert Sutcliffe, who worked at a sawmill in nearby Dacre Banks, was a keen club cricketer.

When Herbert Sutcliffe was still a baby the family moved to Pudsey, where Willie's father was the landlord of the King's Arms.

Herbert Sutcliffe played rugby football, and an injury sustained during a rugby match led to his premature death in 1898.

Jane Herbert Sutcliffe moved the family back to Nidderdale, where they lived in Darley, the boys enrolling at Darley School, and she remarried.

Willie Herbert Sutcliffe had three sisters, Sarah, Carrie and Harriet, who ran a bakery.

Herbert Sutcliffe was a Sunday School teacher as a young man and first came to notice as a cricketer when he played for a church team.

Herbert Sutcliffe left school in 1908 when he was 13, and was apprenticed to a boot and shoe company as a "clicker" who fastened boot soles to uppers.

Herbert Sutcliffe became seriously interested in cricket at the age of eight, soon after he returned to Pudsey during his mother's final illness.

Herbert Sutcliffe formed an ambition to follow his father and two uncles and play for Pudsey St Lawrence.

Herbert Sutcliffe's first club was a Wesleyan church team in the neighbouring village of Stanningley, where he was first seen as a bowler rather than a batsman.

In 1911, now aged 16, Herbert Sutcliffe switched his allegiance to the rival Pudsey Britannia club where, he is quoted as saying, "my batting improved by leaps and bounds".

Herbert Sutcliffe later said that Walker allowed him more time for cricket practice than he could get from his bootmaking job.

Herbert Sutcliffe was welcomed by the great George Herbert Hirst, who gave him much encouragement and advice.

Herbert Sutcliffe was coached at Headingley by Hirst and the club's 2nd XI coach, Steve Doughty, who placed great emphasis on the importance of pad play.

Herbert Sutcliffe was playing both for Yorkshire 2nd XI and Pudsey Britannia at this time.

Herbert Sutcliffe was called up in 1915 and served first with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, stationed at York, and then with the Sherwood Foresters.

Herbert Sutcliffe was later commissioned into the Green Howards, now part of the Yorkshire Regiment, as a Second Lieutenant, but he did not see active service and was not posted to France until after the Armistice was signed.

Herbert Sutcliffe played cricket during the war for the Officer Cadet Battalion in Scotland, captaining his team in matches against Glasgow University and other Scottish teams.

Herbert Sutcliffe still managed to play in the Bradford League on occasion, but he said that he sometimes did so under an assumed name after taking unofficial leave.

Herbert Sutcliffe was demobilised in 1919 and took a job as a colliery checkweighman at Allerton Bywater in Yorkshire.

Herbert Sutcliffe was contracted to play for the colliery's cricket team in the Yorkshire Council league, but he was selected at the beginning of the 1919 season to play again for Yorkshire 2nd XI.

Herbert Sutcliffe received a good report in the Yorkshire Post and never played for the 2nd XI again.

Yorkshire batted first, after losing the toss, and Herbert Sutcliffe made 11 in a total of 277.

Herbert Sutcliffe created a debut season record by scoring 1,839 runs at an average of 44.85 with 5 centuries and a highest score of 174 against Kent at Crabble Athletic Ground in Dover.

Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe scored 5 centuries each in 1919 and they shared in 5 century partnerships.

Herbert Sutcliffe was well down the national averages in 1920 with 1,393 runs at 33.16 with 4 centuries and a highest score of 131.

In 1922, as Yorkshire regained the County Championship title under new captain Geoffrey Wilson, Herbert Sutcliffe lived up to his early promise by scoring 2,020 runs at 46.97 with a highest score of 232 against Surrey at the Oval.

Herbert Sutcliffe was one of seven Yorkshire players who were ever-present, playing in all 30 matches.

The Yorkshire cricket historian Alfred Pullin wrote: "it was recognised long before the season ended that Herbert Sutcliffe had established his claim to be considered one of England's first-wicket batsmen".

Herbert Sutcliffe made his Test debut on Saturday, 14 June 1924, playing for England against South Africa at Edgbaston and opening the innings with Jack Hobbs.

The importance of this to Herbert Sutcliffe was that his partnership with Hobbs could continue at the very highest level of cricket where the presence of Hobbs was ultimately the key factor in Herbert Sutcliffe's major success on the tour, which established him as a world-class player.

Herbert Sutcliffe said he had some initial difficulty in adjusting to Australian conditions, specifically the strong light which affected his timing.

Herbert Sutcliffe reckoned that the pitches were a good four yards faster than in England.

Herbert Sutcliffe's remedy was to play straight and by hitting the ball back down the pitch.

Herbert Sutcliffe said later that he sacrificed many of his best shots, but "it paid off in the end".

In 1925, as Yorkshire won a 4th successive championship, Herbert Sutcliffe scored 2,308 runs at 53.67 with 7 centuries and a highest score of 235 against Middlesex at Headingley.

But, in spite of the very difficult batting conditions, Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe put up a great defence of their wickets and gradually increased their partnership to 172 before Hobbs was out for exactly 100.

Herbert Sutcliffe went on to make 161 and, in the end, England won the game comfortably, by 289 runs, and regained the Ashes.

Herbert Sutcliffe was 2nd in the national batting averages behind Hobbs, scoring 2,528 runs at 66.52 with 8 centuries and a highest score of exactly 200 against Leicestershire.

Herbert Sutcliffe scored 2,414 runs at 56.13 with 6 centuries and a highest score of 227 for England versus The Rest.

Herbert Sutcliffe himself was en route to South Africa while most of the furore developed and had to rely on telegrams for his news.

Herbert Sutcliffe was able to open the England innings with Holmes, Hobbs having declined the tour, and made his score of 102 in the first innings of the First Test at the Old Wanderers ground in Johannesburg, England winning by 10 wickets.

In 1928, Herbert Sutcliffe scored 3,000 runs in a season for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1931 and 1932, becoming the first player to achieve it three times.

Herbert Sutcliffe played in all three Tests against West Indies in 1928.

England won the first two Tests before Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe played major roles in one of the most famous Test matches ever at Melbourne.

Herbert Sutcliffe later said that he considered this to have been his finest innings ever.

Jardine later wrote about the number of times Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe were hit "all over the body" during their stand and made the point that, if a batsman is to make runs on an Australian sticky wicket, then being hit by the ball is inevitable.

In 1929, Herbert Sutcliffe scored 5 centuries against the South African tourists.

Nevertheless, Herbert Sutcliffe scored 532 runs and 2 centuries in the disputed matches and this has impacted his first-class statistical record with two versions in circulation.

Herbert Sutcliffe totalled 3,006 runs with a highest score of 230 among 13 centuries.

Yorkshire historian Jim Kilburn commented on Herbert Sutcliffe's general consistency as "almost past believing" while Herbert Sutcliffe himself reckoned that his accomplishments in 1931, which was a wet summer, were the best of his entire career.

When Yorkshire played Gloucestershire at Park Avenue, Bradford, in July 1932, Herbert Sutcliffe completed his 100th century.

Herbert Sutcliffe was the first Yorkshire player and the seventh overall to achieve the feat.

In Yorkshire's match against Essex at Leyton, Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe set a world record partnership for any wicket of 555.

Herbert Sutcliffe scored 3,336 runs in 1932, the highest season total of his career and it included his highest individual score of 313, made in the world record stand at Leyton.

Herbert Sutcliffe averaged 74.13 with 14 centuries and 9 half-centuries.

Herbert Sutcliffe, who was by now England's senior professional, was part of the England selection committee on the tour along with Jardine, Pelham Warner, Bob Wyatt and Wally Hammond.

Herbert Sutcliffe enjoyed only mixed success with the bat but he did make his career highest Test score of 194 in the First Test at Sydney, which England won by 10 wickets.

Herbert Sutcliffe was the only English batsman to reach 1,000 runs on this tour.

Herbert Sutcliffe opened with Wyatt and they began with a stand of 112.

Wisden said that "Herbert Sutcliffe gave a typical exhibition, being wonderfully sure in defence and certain in his off-driving".

Herbert Sutcliffe was again England's highest scorer, making 33 of a poor 139 as O'Reilly and Bert Ironmonger took the wickets.

Herbert Sutcliffe failed twice in the Third Test at Adelaide, the most controversial match of the tour as it was the one in which the bodyline furore reached its climax.

Herbert Sutcliffe was out for 2 in the second innings but Leyland held the innings steady and ensured that England won both the match and the series.

The Fifth Test at Sydney was therefore academic but England nevertheless won by 8 wickets, Herbert Sutcliffe scoring 56 in his only innings.

Les Ames agreed with Wyatt's view and said that, though the majority of the England players were morally opposed to Jardine's tactics, Herbert Sutcliffe took the pragmatic view that "the ball is there, it's short, so hook it".

Herbert Sutcliffe himself was an outstanding player of the hook shot but Ames was unsure about how he would have coped with Larwood's accuracy if he had been playing against him.

However, a close friend of Herbert Sutcliffe insisted that Herbert Sutcliffe "was always behind authority" and was absolutely loyal to his captain, but his private views about bodyline were another matter.

Herbert Sutcliffe completed 7 centuries with a highest score of 205 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Herbert Sutcliffe scored 304 runs at 50.66 in four Tests against Australia in 1934.

Wisden's view was that England wished to try out younger players but it pointed out that Herbert Sutcliffe "remains a prolific runscorer".

The demands of Test cricket behind him, Herbert Sutcliffe played in 29 of Yorkshire's 30 County Championship matches in 1936 but his average fell to 33.30, his worst seasonal performance since the early 1920s.

Herbert Sutcliffe's form rallied somewhat in the last three seasons of his career and he formed another outstanding opening partnership with Len Hutton who matured into a Test-class batsman in 1937.

Herbert Sutcliffe faced Australian opposition for the final time in 1938 when he appeared in two matches against the tourists, one in July for Yorkshire at Bramall Lane and the other in September at North Marine Road in a Scarborough Festival match when he played for H D G Leveson Gower's XI.

Yorkshire completed another hat-trick of County Championships in 1939 and, although he was now 44 and certainly a "veteran", Herbert Sutcliffe enjoyed a remarkable sequence of four consecutive centuries in May and June which showed any doubters that he was still one of the best opening batsmen around.

Herbert Sutcliffe was to play one more first-class match in 1945, but his career effectively ended in August 1939 when he played for Yorkshire against Hampshire at Dean Park Cricket Ground, Bournemouth, on Saturday, 26 August and Monday, 28 August.

Herbert Sutcliffe rejoined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and attained the rank of major.

Herbert Sutcliffe did not leave Great Britain during his army service which ended in November 1942.

The League team included Eddie Paynter, Manny Martindale and Learie Constantine, who scored a brilliant century in what Herbert Sutcliffe described as "a gem of an innings".

Mackenzie gave a brilliant speech that was well received and Herbert Sutcliffe said to him: "Oh, my, how I wish I could speak like you".

Herbert Sutcliffe had already stated his intention to retire from first-class cricket but nevertheless he returned in August 1945 at the age of 50 for one final match after the war in Europe ended.

Herbert Sutcliffe captained the Yorkshire team in a match against a Royal Air Force team at North Marine Road in the renewed Scarborough Festival.

Herbert Sutcliffe batted once, going in at number 5, and scored just 8 runs before being dismissed leg before wicket by Bill Edrich.

In 1949, Herbert Sutcliffe was accorded honorary membership of MCC and joined what was then a select company of English professionals including George Hirst, Wilfred Rhodes and Jack Hobbs.

Herbert Sutcliffe continued to be involved in cricket and his Wisden obituary says: "His repayment to the game which had given him so much was service on the Yorkshire committee, as an England selector, and as sponsor for many good causes in cricket".

Herbert Sutcliffe was a Test selector for three years from 1959 through 1961, during which England played home series against India, South Africa and Australia.

Herbert Sutcliffe retained his interest in cricket for the rest of his life.

Herbert Sutcliffe was one of the great cricketers and he brought to cricket as to all his undertakings an assurance and capacity for concentration that positively commanded success.

On 30 September 2009, Herbert Sutcliffe was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Herbert Sutcliffe's approach was essentially to do everything possible to help his team to win the match.

Herbert Sutcliffe's philosophy was that the game was there to be won and not merely to be played.

Herbert Sutcliffe was determined to keep his wicket intact and, according to Fred Trueman, "he was a terrible man to get out" and "was at his best in a crisis".

Herbert Sutcliffe's professionalism was reflected in his preparation and off-field demeanour.

Herbert Sutcliffe took great pride in his appearance and Trueman says he was "always spick and span".

Herbert Sutcliffe was "unfailingly courteous as a man" and, along with his England colleague Hobbs, "committed to advancing the cause of the professional cricketer".

Herbert Sutcliffe set high standards for himself and was determined to get on in life, as well as cricket, and make a lot of money.

Herbert Sutcliffe took pains to modify his accent and, as Neville Cardus commented, Herbert Sutcliffe eventually spoke "not with the accents of Yorkshire but of Teddington".

Herbert Sutcliffe was a Yorkshireman in his loyalty and training, but he was cosmopolitan in approach and outlook.

Trevor Bailey, writing in the 1981 Wisden about cricketers' hairstyles, said that Herbert Sutcliffe's was "black patent-leather glinting in the sun, complete with the straightest of partings".

Herbert Sutcliffe is especially remembered for his partnerships with Hobbs for England and with Holmes for Yorkshire.

One of the main factors in these partnerships was mutual understanding, especially when it came to their judgment of singles, and Herbert Sutcliffe was involved in relatively few run outs when batting with either Hobbs or Holmes.

John Arlott wrote that Herbert Sutcliffe was a batsman of "immense application and thought".

Herbert Sutcliffe was noted for his courage when facing the world's fastest bowlers, such as Harold Larwood who paid this tribute to Herbert Sutcliffe after his death:.

Herbert Sutcliffe was a great battler for England and for Yorkshire.

Herbert Sutcliffe never gave his wicket away unless he was satisfied he had made enough already.

Herbert Sutcliffe told Fred Trueman that, although some batsmen can play fast bowling and some can't, "if everybody told the truth, no one really likes it".

Herbert Sutcliffe lacked the "polished elegance of Hobbs" as he was "essentially a practical batsman with a superb judgment of length, pace and direction".

Herbert Sutcliffe was noted as a firm striker off the front foot who had efficient use of the pull and hook shots.

The report goes on to say that Herbert Sutcliffe "undoubtedly felt a heavy responsibility rested upon him" but concluded by remarking on "how he could hit when he considered he might set about run-getting in light-hearted fashion".

Second in line was undoubtedly the cool, methodical Herbert Sutcliffe, Hobbs's trusted opening partner for England, whose average of 66.85 in Ashes matches is the second-highest amongst batsmen with 1,000 runs, 23 points behind Bradman's and 12 ahead of Hobbs's.

Herbert Sutcliffe, who began his days as a stylist, later made the most of his abilities with powers of defence and concentration rarely, if ever, seen before.

Herbert Sutcliffe lacked the polished artistry of Hobbs or the sheer princely quality of Hammond or the delightful impertinence of Holmes, but he lacked nothing else.

Herbert Sutcliffe's spirit warmed to the fight like that of an ancient warrior.

Herbert Sutcliffe's manner was suave; his hair immaculate; his voice quiet; but he revealed his truest self, after his 161 in the 1926 Oval Test, surely the most truly Sutcliffian innings of his life, when he said: 'Yes, Mr Warner, I love a dogfight.

Herbert Sutcliffe was usually a safe catcher and, in his career, took 23 catches in 54 Tests and 474 in 754 first-class matches.

Herbert Sutcliffe has dark, glossy hair and usually disdains the valued White Rose cap when batting.

Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe shared 74 century stands in all first-class matches including 69 for Yorkshire.

Yorkshire won the title 8 times in the seasons that Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe opened the innings together.

In September 1922, Herbert Sutcliffe played in a Scarborough Festival match for C I Thornton's XI against MCC and, for the first time, was paired with Jack Hobbs in an opening partnership.

The selectors evidently felt that Herbert Sutcliffe was not yet ready but they were, "as events would prove, wise to delay his promotion" as it ensured that Herbert Sutcliffe would have Hobbs as his "influential guide on the international stage".

Herbert Sutcliffe readily acknowledged his debt to his "influential guide" by naming his eldest son after him and writing, in a booklet published in 1927, that he doubted if Hobbs had an equal and that, as a batsman, "he stands alone the best I have ever seen".

Herbert Sutcliffe expressed the view that if W G Grace was as good as Jack Hobbs, "then he must have been wonderful".

Herbert Sutcliffe said that Hobbs' earliest advice to him had been simply: "Play your own game".

The last Test match in which Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe played together was the final one at The Oval, Hobbs' home ground, in the 1930 series against Australia.

Behind them were nine years of wonderful attainment, 26 opening partnerships of 100 or more; a legendary technique and repute unequalled by any other pair; the lean, active quizzical Hobbs and the neat, wiry imperturbable Herbert Sutcliffe, who set a standard that can serve as a guide, but defied all attempts at emulation.

Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe made 15 century opening partnerships for England in Test matches, including 11 against Australia, and 11 in other first-class matches.

Hutton said that his shyness and the fact that he was twenty years younger than Herbert Sutcliffe made it difficult for him to approach his partner when he needed help, which he more readily got from Bill Bowes and Hedley Verity.

About Herbert Sutcliffe he said: "I did not find it easy to talk to him".

Future Yorkshire captain Ronnie Burnet reckoned that Herbert Sutcliffe had been the dominant partner until then and their scores would be something like 60 to 40 in Herbert Sutcliffe's favour.

Burnet said that Hutton was "tearing attacks apart in 1939 and Herbert Sutcliffe was by then playing second fiddle".

Bill Bowes said that Herbert Sutcliffe readily acknowledged the superior ability of Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond and Len Hutton but what Herbert Sutcliffe did have were the concentration and willpower to make the best of his abilities in any given situation.

Hutton pinpointed the key difference by explaining that, when Herbert Sutcliffe was taking guard, "his weight was on the left foot, enabling him to play the hook shot so well" whereas Hutton put his weight onto his right foot.

Herbert Sutcliffe regarded McDonald as "one of the best bowlers I ever met".

Herbert Sutcliffe commented on McDonald's trick of "resting" by making himself seem tired and then "hurling himself into like a demon".

Herbert Sutcliffe married Emily Pease at Pudsey Parish Church on 21 September 1921.

Herbert Sutcliffe had been a personal secretary to Richard Ingham, a mill owner who had introduced Sutcliffe to Pudsey St Lawrence.

The business thrived while Herbert Sutcliffe was playing cricket and established itself as one of the leading sports goods retailers in the north of England.

Herbert Sutcliffe ceased to have an active role in 1948 when he handed over the management to his son Billy.

Herbert Sutcliffe became the northern area representative, and eventually a director, of a paper manufacturer called Thomas Owen which was later amalgamated into Wiggins Teape.

Herbert Sutcliffe developed severe arthritis in his old age, the disease crippling him to the extent that he needed a wheelchair.

Herbert Sutcliffe was finally admitted to a Cross Hills nursing home in North Yorkshire where he died in January 1978 at the age of 83.