English cricket has lost a distinctly genial, avuncular man

HUW TURBERVILL reflects on the life and times of Hubert Doggart and his own correspondence with the former Sussex captain and MCC president

^{Hubert Doggart: 1925-2018}

One of English cricket’s true and much-loved characters, Hubert Doggart, has died at the great age of 92.

He was a former Sussex captain, and was also president of MCC, the Cricket Council and the English Schools’ Cricket Association between 1965–2000, as well as chairman of the ICC in 1981/82. 

Doggart made 215 not out on his first-class debut – still an English record – for Cambridge University against Lancashire in 1948. That was only four runs below his highest score, 219 not out, for the university against Essex a year later.

His overall first-class record consisted of 210 matches, with 10,054 runs at 31.51, with 20 centuries and 50 half-centuries.

He played two Tests against West Indies in 1950, the side of the three Ws (Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott) and the spin twins, Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. He made a highest score of 29.

According to MCC he occupied many posts on their committee between 1975 and 1992, notably as president and treasurer, and “gave his considerable expertise to a number of other committees, including Cricket, Arts & Library and General Purposes between 1954 and 2006”.

He was also involved in the editing and publication of a number of books as part of the MCC Cricket Library series, and was honorary life vice-president.

The Cricketer had a memorable encounter with him at the wonderful Arundel.

I wrote that “Doggart, the second-oldest living first-class cricketer in England at 90, was unimpressed”.

I then received an email from the great man saying why did he write that he had been unimpressed by Azharullah’s bowling? 

“He had been excellent”.

He was a guest of Sussex as they took on Northamptonshire in the County Championship in June 2016. Sussex struggled in the first innings, Chris Nash’s 75 standing out in a total of 178. Azharullah found the atmospherics to his liking, swinging the ball impressively to take 6 for 68.

I wrote that “Doggart, the second-oldest living first-class cricketer in England at 90, was unimpressed”.

I then received an email from the great man saying why did he write that he had been unimpressed by Azharullah’s bowling?

“He had been excellent”.

Ever the schoolmaster, Doggart was technically right, I had worded it slightly clunkily. I think most people would have realised I was talking about Doggart’s dim view on his former side’s batting, however.

He was not being unkind, though. Our correspondences were warm. I recall him being a distinctly genial, avuncular man.

His family must be very proud of his wonderful cricket CV.

Hampshire’s John Manners remains the oldest living first-class English cricketer, at 103.

HUBERT DOGGART CAREER

210 matches

347 innings

10,054 runs

ave 31.51

20 100s

60 wickets

ave 34.28

Test caps: 2