Hornibrook Percy Image 1 Queensland 1930

Description

Obi Obi, Queensland born left-arm slow medium bowler Percy Hornibrook made his first class debut for Queensland in 1919-20 against Victoria, taking four wickets. Tall with a loose arm and a good action, he was prepared to open the bowling with swingers and then after a few overs would reduce his pace and begin to spin and flight the ball. In 1920-21 he took 3-89 for his State against the touring England side, and, selected for the Australian side which toured New Zealand in 1921, he took 47 first class wickets at an average of 12. According to Wisden, “Many thought he should have been included in the 1921 side to England, which was distinctly weak in slow-wicket bowling, though in the event it not require it.”

Wisden later said “There was far greater surprise when he was omitted from the 1926 side, and no less a judge than M.A. Noble advocated his inclusion. He would at least have saved Macartney from being bowled to death in the early weeks of the tour and in the vital last Test on a rain-affected pitch he might easily have tipped the scales in Australia’s favour.” Possibly the fact that his State was not admitted to the Sheffield Shield until 1926 made it harder for him to gain recognition.

Hornibrook made his Test debut for Australia already aged 30 in the last match of the 1928-29 Ashes against A.P.F. Chapman’s England side at Melbourne in March 1929. He took four wickets and made some useful runs in Australia’s victory. In 1929-30 he took 35 first class wickets at an average of 32, and then toured England with Australia for the 1930 Ashes. He played in all the Tests and took 13 wickets in them. He took 96 wickets on the tour in all, Australia’s second best bowler after Clarrie Grimmett.

Hornibrook saved his best performance for his last match, which came in the Fifth Test at The Oval in August. The series was 1-1, with England only having to draw to retain the Ashes. They batted first and scored 405, with Hornibrook wicketless. Australia batted and made 695. When England batted again Hornibrook took 7-92 and England were dismissed for 251. In 6 Tests for Australia he took 17 wickets at 39.05.

According to Wisden, “his figures suggest, what good critics confirm, that he bowled far too many bad balls: one indeed said that bogey for a good slow left-hander on that wicket would have been seven for 30. Perhaps had he had longer experience of English conditions he would have been better. At any rate by then he was past his peak – his arm had dropped and he was more full-chested. At the end of the tour he retired from first class cricket.”

He played one Sheffield Shield game in 1930-31 and made a comeback to first class cricket in 1933-34. It was not successful but he continued to play club cricket for Toombul District Cricket Club, eventually retiring from club cricket in 1940.

In 71 first class matches Hornibrook, who batted left-handed, had a single fifty, making 59 not out, while averaging 10.77. With his bowling he took 279 wickets at 23.83 apiece with a best performance of 8-60, taking ten wickets in a match 6 times and five wickets in an innings 17 times, as well as holding 66 catches.

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