Robin Hobbs, a former cricketer who played for Essex and England, has passed away at 81 years old. He had a successful career, taking more than 1000 wickets in first-class cricket before retiring in 1981 while playing for Glamorgan.
Hobbs made his debut for England in 1967 against India at Headingley. He played seven Test matches over the next four years, taking a total of 12 wickets. He was known as the last specialist legspinner to represent England until Ian Salisbury debuted in 1992.
During his time with Essex, he became a crucial player after joining in 1961 under the management of Trevor Bailey. Across 15 seasons, he played 325 matches for Essex, claiming 763 wickets with an average of exactly 26.00. He received his Essex cap in 1964. After leaving Essex in 1975, he unexpectedly returned to first-class cricket as captain for Glamorgan in 1979. His final match, in 1981 against his former team, saw him take a five-wicket haul.
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Robin Hobbs achieved his best bowling figures of 8 for 63 while playing for Essex against Glamorgan in 1966. His career total of 1,099 wickets included his 1000th wicket, which helped secure a memorable win over Worcestershire in 1975.
Despite not being known for his batting, Hobbs scored nearly 5000 first-class runs in his career, including two centuries. His last century, in 1975 against the Australian touring team, was particularly notable as it came from just 46 balls, earning him the prestigious Walter Lawrence Trophy for the season’s fastest hundred.
Robin hibbs son, Nick, shared the news of his passing on social media, expressing his grief. In a 2020 interview with BBC Essex Sport, Hobbs reflected fondly on his career, especially on achieving over 1000 wickets as a legspinner, considering it unlikely to be repeated due to changes in county cricket scheduling.