Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
There can be no doubt that WWII affected the careers of a number of great cricketers. How might they have performed had that terrible war not occurred? It's pure speculation but an examination of players' performances who played Tests both before and after the war and a look at their age during those missing years might provide some indication.
Don Bradman: Prior to WWII, Bradman averaged 97.9. He was 31-37 during the war years and, after the war he averaged 104.7. This latter figure was boosted by 2 Tests v India where he averaged 210.5 and his average with The Invincibles (113.9). In 1938 Bradman was injured in the final Ashes Test and this, together with fibrositis which prevented him entering war service, may have curtailed his appearances and performances. Regardless, he showed both before and after the war that he was the greatest batsman and one can only wonder what he might have achieved without that lengthy interruption.
Len Hutton: Before the war Hutton averaged 64.0 in Tests. There can be no argument that missing Tests while aged 24-30 meant he missed his prime years. Post war, despite carrying the after affects of a badly broken arm, Hutton averaged 54.6. But for those missing years and war injury, he might well have maintained an average well in the '60s and would be regarded as in the same tier as Jack Hobbs.
Denis Compton: Compton debuted at relatively young age and, in 8 pre-war Tests, averaged 52.0. Of all these mentioned, Compton definitely missed his prime years (21-27) because of the war. Post war he averaged a highly respectable 49.9 but, IMO, his Test career was most severely affected by the conflict.
Walter Hammond: Although Hammond played both before and after the war, he was already 37 when he played his last pre-war Test. Into his 40s when Test cricket resumed he was a shadow of his former self averaging 30.5 post war. I doubt he would have improved his pre-war average of 62.1 had Tests been played during those missing years.
Keith Miller: While Miller didn't play in Tests before WWII, it is worth considering that he was 26 when he made his first Test appearance. He suffered a severe back injury after a crash landing and this often affected his bowling. Regarded among the ATG all-rounders one can only imagine how he would have performed if given an earlier taste of Tests and without his troublesome back. His wartime experiences also affected his outlook on life and sport and, consequently, he often appeared disinterested in one-sided contests.
Don Bradman: Prior to WWII, Bradman averaged 97.9. He was 31-37 during the war years and, after the war he averaged 104.7. This latter figure was boosted by 2 Tests v India where he averaged 210.5 and his average with The Invincibles (113.9). In 1938 Bradman was injured in the final Ashes Test and this, together with fibrositis which prevented him entering war service, may have curtailed his appearances and performances. Regardless, he showed both before and after the war that he was the greatest batsman and one can only wonder what he might have achieved without that lengthy interruption.
Len Hutton: Before the war Hutton averaged 64.0 in Tests. There can be no argument that missing Tests while aged 24-30 meant he missed his prime years. Post war, despite carrying the after affects of a badly broken arm, Hutton averaged 54.6. But for those missing years and war injury, he might well have maintained an average well in the '60s and would be regarded as in the same tier as Jack Hobbs.
Denis Compton: Compton debuted at relatively young age and, in 8 pre-war Tests, averaged 52.0. Of all these mentioned, Compton definitely missed his prime years (21-27) because of the war. Post war he averaged a highly respectable 49.9 but, IMO, his Test career was most severely affected by the conflict.
Walter Hammond: Although Hammond played both before and after the war, he was already 37 when he played his last pre-war Test. Into his 40s when Test cricket resumed he was a shadow of his former self averaging 30.5 post war. I doubt he would have improved his pre-war average of 62.1 had Tests been played during those missing years.
Keith Miller: While Miller didn't play in Tests before WWII, it is worth considering that he was 26 when he made his first Test appearance. He suffered a severe back injury after a crash landing and this often affected his bowling. Regarded among the ATG all-rounders one can only imagine how he would have performed if given an earlier taste of Tests and without his troublesome back. His wartime experiences also affected his outlook on life and sport and, consequently, he often appeared disinterested in one-sided contests.
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