Know Jack Hobbs: Batsman who scored maximum runs in domestic cricket

New Delhi: Those who do not follow cricket, heard this name the first time while watching the Oscar-winning feature film “Slumdog Millionaire”. In the film during a quiz show, a question was asked who has scored the maximum runs runs in a domestic cricket. The answer was Jack Hobbs.Known as "The Master", he is regarded by critics as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century-maker in first-class cricket, with 61,760 runs and 199 centuries. Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches between 1908 and 1930.Born in a poor family in 1882, Hobbs wished from an early age to pursue a career in cricket. His early batting was undistinguished, but a sudden improvement in 1901 brought him to the attention of local teams. In 1903 he joined Surrey. His reputation grew after joining Surrey. On his first-class debut he scored 88 and a century in his next game. Over the following seasons, he established himself as a successful county player and in 1908 made his Test debut for England, scoring 83 in his first innings.After some mixed early performances for England, Hobbs' success against South African made his place secure, and by 1911–12, when he scored three centuries in the Test series against Australia and soon caught the eyes of the critics who judged him the world's best batsman. In county cricket, he developed an attacking, dynamic style of play and was very successful until 1914. His career was threatened by appendicitis, which caused him to miss most of the 1921 season. When he returned, he was a more cautious batsmen and used a safer style of play. Subsequently, he became more consistent and scored prolifically in both Test and domestic cricket until his retirement. In this period, he played some of his most acclaimed innings.Hobbs' success was based on fast footwork, an ability to play many different shots, and excellent placement of the ball. Among the first batsmen to succeed against previously devastating googly bowlers, he adapted his technique to meet the new styles of bowling that arose early in his career; he mixed classical shots with an effective defence. He was particularly successful on difficult pitches for batting.His partnership with Sutcliffe remains in 2013 the most effective, in terms of average partnership, in Test history. Contemporaries rated Hobbs extremely highly, and critics continue to list him among the best batsmen of all time.Hobbs was very close to Ada, his wife of 56 years. After his cricketing retirement, he also worked in journalism. Knighted in 1953, the first professional cricketer to be so honoured, he spent his later years nursing his wife. He died, aged 81, a few months after her in 1963.