Len Hopwood
England
INTL CAREER: 1934 - 1934
Full Name
John Leonard Hopwood
Born
October 30, 1903, Newton Hyde, Cheshire
Died
June 15, 1985, Denton, Lancashire, (aged 81y 228d)
Batting Style
Right hand Bat
Bowling Style
Left arm Medium
TEAMS
A good county slow-left armer, and a more than useful bat with 24
first-class hundreds, Len Hopwood had difficulty establishing himself in the
strong Lancashire sides of the 1920s and 30s (debuting in 1923), but became
an important member of a strong side. His best year with the bat was 1933,
when he made nearly 2000 runs, and he performed the double in 1934 and 1935.
He bowled his slow left-arm in a quicker style, somewhat like Verity, and
was accurate and economical. His good form earned him Test selection in
1934, against the powerful Australians. Picked as an allrounder, and a foil
for Verity, he debuted at Old Trafford. He failed with the bat, and despite
bowling 47 overs for only 62 runs failed to take a wicket. He
played again in the Fourth Test and had the unfortunate experience of
bowling to Bradman at his best. Bradman made 304, Hopwood bowled 30 overs
without a wicket, failed with the bat again, and returned to county cricket
until the end of his career. EW Swanton wrote of him, "chosen for all-round
virtues, he lacked the self-assurance necessary for international cricket,
and his bowling was only an accurate shadow of Verity's."
Wisden Cricinfo staff
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