Herbie Hewett

Herbie Hewett
Personal information
Full name
Herbert Tremenheere Hewett
Born(1864-05-25)25 May 1864
Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, England
Died4 March 1921(1921-03-04) (aged 56)
Hove, Sussex, England
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingMedium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1884–1893Somerset
1886–1887Oxford University
1888–1896Marylebone Cricket Club
FC debut25 August 1884 Somerset v Kent
Last FC29 June 1895 MCC v Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 106
Runs scored 5,099
Batting average 29.30
100s/50s 7/30
Top score 201
Balls bowled 454
Wickets 2
Bowling average 120.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/40
Catches/stumpings 49/–
Source: CricketArchive, 10 October 2010

Herbert Tremenheere Hewett (25 May 1864 – 4 March 1921) was an English amateur first-class cricketer who played for Somerset, captaining the county from 1889 to 1893, as well as Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. A battling left-handed opening batsman, Hewett could post a large score in a short time against even the best bowlers. Capable of hitting the ball powerfully, he combined an excellent eye with an unorthodox style to be regarded at his peak as one of England's finest batsmen.

Hewett was educated at Harrow School, won a blue at Oxford in 1886 and played for Somerset from 1884. As an inconsistent middle-order batsman he made little impact during this period. Even so, he was appointed captain of Somerset in 1889. Over the next two years, his leadership and performances as an opening batsman were instrumental in the county regaining first-class status and admission to the County Championship in 1891. He remained Somerset captain for a further three seasons, usually opening the batting with Lionel Palairet. In 1892, they shared a partnership of 346 for the first wicket, of which Hewett scored 201. The stand remains the county's highest first-wicket partnership.[n 1] In that season, Hewett made 1,405 runs at an average of more than 35, and was named as one of the "Five Batsmen of the Year" by Wisden. His highest accolade was being selected to play for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord's in 1894. A disagreement over whether play should take place on a sodden pitch in the match against the Australians in 1893 led to Hewett's departure from Somerset at the end of that season.

He played first-class cricket for three more years, during which time he scored centuries against both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, appearing for a variety of amateur and representative sides. Having been selected to captain an "England XI" at Scarborough in 1895, Hewett was involved in another incident caused by a wet pitch. Feeling insulted by shouts of derision from the crowd, he left the match at lunch-time on the first day. Hewett made only one further first-class appearance: playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Oxford University in 1896. Hewett practised as a barrister, having been called to the bar at the Inner Temple.
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