Bill Hitch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bill Hitch England (ENG)
Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling type	Right-arm fast
	Tests	First-class
Matches	7	350
Runs scored	103	7643
Batting average	14.71	17.81
100s/50s	-/1	3/32
Top score	51*	107
Balls bowled	462	56917
Wickets	7	1387
Bowling average	46.42	21.56
5 wickets in innings	-	101
10 wickets in match	-	24
Best bowling	2/31	8/38
Catches/stumpings	4/-	230/-
Test debut: 15 December 1933 Last Test: 13 July 1935 Source: [1]

John William "Bill" Hitch, born Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on May 7, 1886, and died at Cardiff on July 7, 1965, was a cricketer who played for Surrey and England.

A Lancastrian, Hitch was bowling for a club in Cambridgeshire when he was spotted by Surrey's legendary batsman Tom Hayward and recommended to The Oval. From his debut in 1907, he quickly established himself as one of the fastest bowlers in first-class cricket, and his rumbustious lower-order batting and general enthusiasm made him a favourite with the crowds.

Hitch's Test cricket career began on the tour of Australia in 1911-12, continued in the 1912 Triangular Tournament in England the following year, and then resumed after the First World War with Tests against Warwick Armstrong's all-conquering Australian cricket team both home and away in 1920-21 and 1921. But in seven matches Hitch took only 11 wickets, and his most notable achievement was an innings of 51 in just 40 minutes at The Oval in 1921.

In county cricket, Hitch's best season was 1913, when he took 174 wickets. His batting feats included 74 in 35 minutes against Nottinghamshire and his highest score of 107 against Somerset at Bath in 1922 was made in just 70 minutes. He was also a fine short-leg fielder. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1914.

After retiring in 1925, Hitch played Lancashire League cricket for four years before becoming coach at Glamorgan.