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| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sir Leonard Hutton | |||
| Born | 23 June 1916 Fulneck, Pudsey, England |
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| Died | 6 September 1990 (aged 74) Kingston-upon-Thames, England |
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| Batting style | Right-hand | |||
| Bowling style | Right-arm leg break | |||
| Role | Opener | |||
| International information | ||||
| National side | England | |||
| Test debut (cap 603) | 26 June 1937 v New Zealand | |||
| Last Test | 25 March 1955 v New Zealand | |||
| Domestic team information | ||||
| Years | Team | |||
| 1938-1960 | MCC | |||
| 1934-1955 | Yorkshire | |||
| Career statistics | ||||
| Competition | Test | FC | ||
| Matches | 79 | 513 | ||
| Runs scored | 6971 | 40140 | ||
| Batting average | 56.67 | 55.51 | ||
| 100s/50s | 19/33 | 129/179 | ||
| Top score | 364 | 364 | ||
| Balls bowled | 260 | 9740 | ||
| Wickets | 3 | 173 | ||
| Bowling average | 77.33 | 29.51 | ||
| 5 wickets in innings | – | 4 | ||
| 10 wickets in match | – | 1 | ||
| Best bowling | 1/2 | 6/76 | ||
| Catches/stumpings | 57/– | 401/– | ||
| Source: cricketarchive.com, 14 August 2007 | ||||
Sir Leonard Hutton (23 June 1916 – 6 September 1990), commonly named Len Hutton, was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. In 1938, he set a record for the highest individual innings in a Test match, scoring 364 against Australia, which stood for nearly 20 years. In 1952, he became the first professional cricketer of the twentieth century to captain England in a Test match and under his captaincy England won the Ashes the following year for the first time in 19 years. In the years immediately following the war, he was the mainstay of the Test team's batting.
Marked out as a potential star from his teenage years, Hutton made his debut for Yorkshire in 1934 and quickly established himself. He first played for England in 1937, and went on to break the Test innings record in only his sixth Test. By the time the war broke out, he had established himself as one of the leading batsmen in England. However, during the war, he received a serious injury to his arm and took a long time to recover and this affected his batting afterwards. When cricket resumed, Hutton again became one of England's leading batsmen and by the time of England's tour to Australia in 1950–51, the batting relied very heavily on him. He was chosen as England captain in 1952 to mixed reactions, but with his batting making a large contribution, England were able to regain the Ashes in 1953. Hutton continued as captain, although his leadership was at times controversial, until 1954–55. Worn out by the mental and physical demands of his role, Hutton retired from all cricket. He was knighted for his contributions to cricket in 1956. He went on to be a Test selector, a journalist and broadcaster. He also took up a career as a representative for an engineering firm, Fenner's.
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Hutton was born on 23 June 1916, the youngest of five children to Henry Hutton and Lily Swithenbank, in the Moravian community of Fulneck, Pudsey. This community was very influential on his upbringing and outlook on life. From 1921, Hutton went to Littlemoor Council School in Pudsey. He played a great deal of cricket, both at school and in the local community.[1] All three of his brothers had played cricket for Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club, and Hutton frequently went to watch the club and joined junior practices. In 1927, Hutton made his appearance for the club's second eleven, aged just eleven, to make up numbers when the team were a player short. By the age of 13, he was playing for the first eleven.[2] Hutton came under the influence of Herbert Sutcliffe when he was encouraged to go to Sutcliffe's home to be coached (Sutcliffe had a cricket nets in his garden). Sutcliffe was impressed by Hutton. He and the Pudsey St Lawrence club president recommended Hutton to Yorkshire, and Hutton went to the indoor practice shed at Headingley in 1930.[3][4] George Hirst, responsible for assessing and coaching young players at the nets, was also impressed, telling him to keep on playing the way he was, and on another occasion telling him that there was nothing that he could be taught that he did not already know.[4] Hutton also was at Headingley in 1930 when Don Bradman scored 334 not out in a Test match, the score which Hutton would pass eight years later.[3]
This led Hutton to consider a career as a professional cricketer, but his parents wanted him to learn a trade. He spent a year at Pudsey Grammar School studying technical drawing, quantitative work and electrical work, and then joined his father in working for a building firm. He enjoyed this, particularly working with wood and he continued to work for the firm during the winter once he had begun to play for Yorkshire.[5] In the meantime, Hirst had arranged for Bill Bowes, the Yorkshire pace bowler, to bowl at Hutton in the practice shed. Bowes was believed that Hutton had a very good technique. Hirst also commented that Hutton learned easily and remembered what he had been told.[5]
In 1933, Hutton became a regular player for Pudsey St Lawrence first eleven, opening the batting with former Yorkshire batsman Edgar Oldroyd, who came to accept Hutton's ability after initial doubts. He was described in the local press as a very promising player, particularly after he scored a match-winning 108 not out in the Priestley Cup.[6] In the same season, Hutton was also selected for Yorkshire Second Eleven for the first time, and despite beginning with ducks in his first two innings, scored 699 runs at an average of 69.90. The Yorkshire Post described him as having a good defence but being too cautious at times.[7] Other figures within Pudsey and Yorkshire cricket, including the Yorkshire secretary John Nash, county captain Brian Sellers and coach George Hirst, believed that Hutton was very promising, and he was mentioned as a likely successor to Percy Holmes as an opening partner to Sutcliffe. His leg spin was also seen as having potential.[8]
In the following season of 1934, he made his first-class début for Yorkshire in 1934 at the age of seventeen, the youngest Yorkshire player since Hirst, 45 years before. He was run out for nought in his first innings but made a not out fifty in his second match.[9] As he began to play in County Championship matches, scoring another fifty in his first match, he enjoyed success as both a batsman and a bowler. He made an initial impression on the press with his defence.[10] He contributed 70 to a first wicket partnership of 267 with Wilf Barber.[11] He later shared an opening partnership of 155 with Arthur Mitchell, before scoring his maiden first-class century with an innings of 196 against Worcestershire County Cricket Club.[12] He received some criticism, particularly from The Times, for over-caution, slow scoring and a lack of strokes but was complimented on his patience.[11] Yorkshire were careful that he was not over-exposed to Championship cricket, returning him periodically to the second eleven. As the season progressed, he grew in confidence and began to play more attractive shots.[13] He finished the season with 863 runs at an average of 33.19.[14]
Before the start of the 1935 season, Herbert Sutcliffe's biography was released. In it, he praised Hutton and drew attention to his ability and potential, calling Hutton "a certainty for a place as England's opening batsman. He is a marvel - the discovery of a generation ... His technique is that of a maestro."[15] Lord Hawke, the Yorkshire president, and Sir Home Gordon, more cautious in their predictions, tried without success to persuade Sutcliffe to moderate his comments. Sutcliffe was not one to give undue praise, but Hutton later said that he found his comments a burden as it brought much unwanted attention his way.[15][16] In the 1935 season, Hutton did not live up to these expectations. Before the season, he had an operation on his nose but returned to cricket too soon, struggling for form and not in good health. As a result, he collapsed while batting in a match. He did not play for a month as Yorkshire rested him to enable him to recover and did not play regularly until the end of July.[14][17][18] His poor form, before his break and immediately after it, left him with a total of 73 runs (average 10.43) by the middle of August, but a century against Middlesex led him into a run of bigger scores. He finished with 577 runs at an average of 28.85 in first-class matches.[14] He received very little attention at the end of the season compared to the previous season.[19]
In the winter of 1935–36, Hutton went on his first overseas tour as Yorkshire toured Jamaica.[19] He reached 1,000 runs in a season for the first time in 1936, managing 1,282 runs (averaging 29.81).[14] He had a long spell of low scores in May and June. However, he took part several big partnerships through the season, including one of 230 with Sutcliffe.[20] Hutton at this time received criticism for his approach. The Times believed that he was hiding his shots too much and letting the bowlers keep on top. The Cricketer also said that he was too negative, not using his natural ability and not fulfilling expectations (although his bowling was praised). However, Yorkshire critics such as journalist Jim Kilburn appreciated his defence and he was seen as meeting the requirements of an opening batsman. Alan Hill, in his biography of Sutcliffe, believed that Hutton needed to establish his defensive technique first and that he would not have had a successful career without it.[20][21] Yorkshire approved to the extent of awarding him his County cap in July.[22]
Hutton made his Test-Match début against New Zealand in 1937, being dismissed for a duck in his first innings and only a single after thirty minutes at the crease in his second. His first Test century came at Old Trafford in only his second Test. A year later he was to break Wally Hammond's record for the highest individual score in Test Matches with 364, which remains the highest Test innings by an Englishman. This innings was at The Oval in 1938, against Australia, and took him 13 hours 20 minutes. The following year he thrilled the crowds with his attacking play, scoring 196 against the West Indian attack in the Lord's Test: the last 96 runs came in 95 minutes. He finished the series with 165 not out at The Oval. In 1939 he enjoyed his best season as a bowler, taking 44 wickets at 18.46.
World War II saw Hutton serve as a sergeant in the Green Howards regiment of the British Army as a physical training instructor where he badly broke his left arm in a gymnasium accident. He had to have bone grafts to repair the damage and, after eight months in hospital, had a left arm two inches shorter than his right.
Although this injury seemed not to affect his subsequent career (his Test average was higher after the war than before), it must have played on his mind, knowing a blow on his left forearm could have ended his career. Perhaps this injury increased his innate sense of caution— Hutton could be a wonderful attacking batsman when in the mood and could play every stroke in the book. But more often than not the burden of carrying England’s batting saw him adopt a much more circumspect approach: he was a hard-headed, practical man who described himself as being a "roundhead" in contrast to Compton’s cavalier. But all are agreed that when he let himself go he could be a glorious batsman, his innings of 37 out of 49 at the Sydney Test of 1946/47 was scintillating and had older members of the crowd recalling the legendary Victor Trumper.
The first post-war series against Australia in 1946/47 was a difficult one for England, perhaps it came too soon after the war and English cricket had not returned to its pre-war standard. The squad was too old and the younger players such as Evans and Bedser were not yet established. Hutton scored a centuryin the last Test.
1948 saw him dropped for the only time in his Test career—against Bradman's legendary Australian team. His omission was controversial and allegedly because he was fatigued[23]. He was restored to the side for the next Test. He scored steadily over the rest of the series, with three half centuries and a 30 which was the top score in England's innings of 52 at The Oval. Yardley's decision to use him as a bowler at Headingly was less successful.
The early 1950s saw Hutton establish himself as England's batting rock. He alone mastered the West Indian spin duo of Ramadhin and Valentine, scoring 202 not out in the 1950 Oval Test. (England made 344; this is the one of the lowest Test totals to include a double century.[24]). He batted at No 8 in England's second innings against Australia at Brisbane in 1950-51 as a ploy to counteract the effects of a 'sticky,' rain-affected pitch and scored a remarkable unbeaten 62 out of England's total of 122. He was given out in most unusual fashion against South Africa at The Oval in 1951. A ball from Athol Rowan ballooned up from a top edge and Hutton, in fending it away from his stumps, prevented wicket-keeper Russell Endean from making a catch. The South Africans appealed and Hutton was given out 'obstructing the field'.
In 1952 he was appointed as England's first professional captain for 65 years. Many people in cricket's establishment were against this break with tradition but Hutton simply got on with the job. Victory against India in 1952 was followed by regaining the Ashes in 1953 against Lindsay Hassett's Australians. On the other hand, his county, Yorkshire, continued to appoint an amateur as captain.
He registered a notable achievement in the 1953/54 series in the West Indies; England began 2-0 down in the Test series, provoking much rancour and criticism. With customary determination and resolve, Hutton led England to victory in two Tests, drawing the series 2-2.
1954/55 saw Hutton lead England on tour to Australia. A move was made to appointed David Sheppard[25] Sheppard lead England in two matches against Pakistan when Hutton was unfit. However the selectors stook with Hutton. The tour started badly. After putting the home side into bat England suffering a heavy defeat in the first Test at Brisbane. With the emergence of Frank Tyson, Hutton led his side to victory in three of the remaining four Tests and a 3-1 series win. England was also well served by Brian Statham, Bob Appleyard and by young batsmen Peter May and Colin Cowdrey but great credit was also attached to Hutton for his determination as captain.
This triumph was to be his crowning moment. He was appointed to lead England in the 1955 series against South Africa but ill health caused his withdrawal and subsequent retirement in 1956, succumbing to a bad back that had been bent over a cricket bat since childhood. He had played in 79 Test matches, scoring 6971 runs at an average of 56.67 with 19 hundreds. In all first-class cricket, he scored 40140 runs at an average of 55.51 with 129 hundreds. In short, he was a true great of the game and ranks with Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond as one of the finest of 20th-century English batsmen.
He was knighted in 1956 for his services to cricket.
Hutton was appointed as one of the England Test team's selectors in 1975. He relinquished the role after the 1976 season.
He married Dorothy Dennis on 3 September 1939 and they had two sons, Richard and John. Their elder son Richard Hutton became a successful cricketer for Repton, Cambridge University, Yorkshire and England. Richard's elder son Ben Hutton captained Middlesex between 2005 and 2006.
He died from a ruptured aorta in Kingston Hospital, Norbiton, Surrey in September, 1990, aged 74, and was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium.
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nigel Howard |
English national cricket captain 1952-1954/5 |
Succeeded by Peter May |
| Records | ||
| Preceded by Wally Hammond |
World Record - Highest individual score in Test cricket 364 vs Australia at The Oval 1938 |
Succeeded by Garfield Sobers |
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   | Cricinfo Player Profile : Sir Leonard Hutton - Sir Leonard Hutton | England Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | Cricinfo.com |
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