Hearne George Image 2 Western Province 1924

Description

Catford, London born right-handed batsman and sometime wicket-keeper George Hearne emigrated to South Africa with his family in 1889. His father, Frank Hearne was a professional cricketer who played Test cricket for both England and South Africa and who was a member of the Hearne family of cricketers. He had played for Kent and emigrated due to ill-health to take up a coaching position with Western Province and subsequently played for South Africa in several Test matches.

George Hearne played first class cricket for Western Province between 1910-11 and 1926-27 and it was the season of 1921-22 which brought him into prominence. That year he made 541 runs at an average of 45. and on the back of that form he played in three Test matches for South Africa between making his debut against England in December 1922 at Johannesburg, when he made solid contributions of 28 and 27 in each innings. After he made his Test debut he made a further appearance against England at Cape Town in January 1923, but was dismissed for a duck in both innings. Hearne then toured England with South Africa in 1924, playing his last Test match in the final Test of the series at The Oval that August.

His highest score of 138 was made in 1926-27, which proved his last season in first class cricket, and he made one other hundred and 10 half centuries, averaging 28.30 from 1,981 runs scored in 41 first class matches. He also bowled occasionally, taking 14 wickets in first class cricket at 28.64 apiece with a best return of 3-9. He also took 38 catches and made two stumpings in first class play.

At the time of his death aged 90 in 1978, Hearne was not only the senior South African Test player (on an age basis) but second in the world only to EJ (“Tiger”) Smith.

The Hearne cricketing family is a large one with particular affiliations to Middlesex and Kent, and with several international cricketers. Hearne’s grandfather George Hearne played for Middlesex, as did his great uncle Thomas. Besides his father, his uncles George (“G.G.”) and Alec Hearne both played for Kent and England. Various other cousins all played first class cricket.

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