John Hirsch (sportsman)

John Gauntlett Hirsch (20 February 1883 – 26 February 1958) was a South African rugby union international and first-class cricketer.

John Hirsch
Personal information
Full name
John Gauntlett Hirsch
Born20 February 1883
Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa
Died26 February 1958(1958-02-26) (aged 75)
Wynberg, Cape Province,
South Africa
BattingUnknown
BowlingUnknown
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1903–1904Cambridge University
1903–1904London County
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 6
Runs scored 166
Batting average 15.09
100s/50s –/1
Top score 56
Balls bowled 144
Wickets 1
Bowling average 93.00
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 1/41
Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: Cricinfo, 30 December 2021

Hirsch was born at Port Elizabeth in February 1883. He was educated in England at Shrewsbury School,[1] where he played cricket, football and rugby union for the school.[2] From Shrewsbury, he went up to Clare College at the University of Cambridge, where he studied history.[1] While studying at Cambridge, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club in 1903 and 1904, making four appearances. He also made two appearances during the same period for London County, captained by W. G. Grace.[3][2] In six first-class matches, Hirsch scored 144 runs at an average of 15.09 and a high score of 56, which was his only first-class half century.[4] He played rugby union for Cambridge University R.U.F.C., with marked success.[2]

After graduating from Cambridge, Hirsch returned to South Africa where he played rugby for Eastern Province.[2] He impressed enough to be selected for the South African team for their 1906–07 tour of Europe as a three-quarter back, playing one Test match on the tour against Ireland at Belfast. He later made a second Test match appearance against Great Britain at Johannesburg.[5] Hirsch died at Wynberg in February 1958.

References

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  1. ^ a b Auden, J. E. (1909). Shrewsbury School Register. Woodhall, Minshall, &, Co., Claxton Press. p. 335.
  2. ^ a b c d "Wisden - Obituaries in 1958". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by John Hirsch". CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  4. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by John Hirsch". CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ^ "John Hirsch - Test match list". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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