Lindsay Hassett: Bradman’s successor who dazzled with his strokeplay — Almanack

Although Arthur Lindsay Hassett finished second to Bradman in the Australian averages, statistics convey but an inadequate impression of his true value to the 1948 side. In addition to his playing ability, Hassett’s cheerfulness and leadership, which extended to off-the-field relaxation as well as in the more exacting part of the programme, combined to make him an ideal vice-captain able to lift a considerable load off Bradman’s busy shoulders.

As with the majority of Australian boys, Hassett, born at Geelong on August 28, 1913, first took an interest in cricket in his family backyard, where he and his five elder brothers regularly played three-a-side “Test” matches. From nine years of age to 19, Hassett attended Geelong College and played in the first XI for the best part of six seasons, during which he received good cricket advice from a master, PL Williams, a grade player who also coached lan Johnson and the late Ross Gregory.

In the Christmas holidays, when 17, Hassett began playing Grade cricket for South Melbourne, and was there coached by EV “Hughie” Carroll, the former Victorian batsman. Only a month after his first appearance for South Melbourne, Hassett was picked for the Combined Country side of Victoria against the West Indies touring team, and he signalled his entry into comparatively important cricket with a score of 147 not-out.

Hassett not only captained the College at cricket, tennis, and football, but he set up a record batting aggregate for Victoria Schools and won the Victoria Public Schools Combined Tennis Championship.

Soon after leaving school, Hassett was chosen for Victoria, but he made only four and nine and did not play again till three years later, in the 1935/36 season. His big chance came when he was sent for as one of the substitutes for several of the team touring New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia who had fallen ill on the eve of the first match. He seized his opportunity with 21, 51, 49 and 73, this last score against South Australia being the only innings of over half a century in a total of 201.

Next season Hassett made his State place secure. He finished top of the batting with an average of 74.83, and, though his figures fell in 1937/38, confirmation of his obviously unusual ability followed by his selection for the tour to England.

Well as he performed, however, Hassett no longer dominated the bowling as he did before the war. The change in Hassett’s batting occurred during the 1946/47 MCC tour, when he became one of the most defensive batsmen in the Tests. Hassett himself is not certain how the change happened, but probably the war interruption in his cricket affected him. At any rate, he seemed unable to produce the fluent driving which previously made him such a punishing batsman, and this caused him to be more cautious generally.

Still, this apart, Hassett remained master of nearly every stroke, and his superb timing, nimble footwork and strong wrists enabled him to make batting look a simple matter: back play a model of correctness, hooks, pulls, cuts and glances made with apparent casual ease disguising his close watch on the ball.

Not many Australian batsmen have fared better on a wet pitch and fewer still have treated WJ O’Reilly at his zenith in such summary fashion as did Hassett in their home encounters. Recognised for years as one of the best outfielders in the world, Hassett at times has bowled leg-breaks, off-breaks and opened the attack; but rarely has he been called upon in first-class games. Hassett, who is married and has one child, is a golfer of considerable ability.