A. L. HASSETT’S FINE RECORD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 47, 25 February 1939, Page 4

A. L. HASSETT’S FINE RECORD

FIRST CENTURY FOR VICTORIA WAS AGAINST N.Z.

A. L. Hassett, who made 139 for Victoria gainst Queensland last Monday week, comes of a sporting family, almost all of whom were good cricketers, and some of whom have been prominent in other branches of sport. His brother, Harry, indeed, has been one of Australia’s leading tennis players for some years, and other members of the family have shone at this game, as well as at golf and other sports. His father and his five brothers have all been good cricketers, and his elder brother, Dick, was a member of the South Melbourne team for several seasons, and has played for Victoria. They all made their mark in the game at Geelong College, and I remember the first time I saw Lindsay play, writes E. H. M. Baillie in the Sporting Globe. It was when I took a team, including several inter-State players, f vn to play against the boys. Linds , then a very small boy in short pants, shaped against the bowlers with a confidence that surprised them and led some of them to predict a future for him.

His school record was a very fine one, and it was not surprising that several metropolitan clubs sought his services. He went to South Melbourne, however, to join Dick, when still in his teens, and made 110 against North Melbourne in his third hand for the club. He lacked consistency for a while, however, and after rather a bad trot Bert Cohen took him for a run with the Colts. That seems to have been the turning point in his career. He had a couple of early experiences in inter-State cricket without success, but four years ago he became a regular member of tHe Victorian side, and has never looked back since. His best scores prior to this season in the Shield games were 93 and 90 against Queensland, and 83, 81, 71 not out and 68 against New South Wales, while his only century was 127 against New Zealand at the start of last season. The trip to England marked the second big point in his career, and he now seems set for a brilliant future.