Walter Hearne
Encyclopedia
Walter Hearne was an English
cricketer
for Kent CCC. He was the elder brother of the great Middlesex
bowler J.T.Hearne and was a bowler of somewhat similar style, being a medium paced right-hander with great accuracy and a pronounced off-break. However, unlike his younger sibling, Walter Hearne was not physically robust and suffered throughout his short career from knee
problems, which ultimately led to his giving up the game at for the time a very young age. Also, even in his best season, Walter Hearne did not demonstrate that he possessed John Thomas’ sting on a firm pitch: indeed on the best wicket he had to bowl during 1894
at the Oval, he was severely punished taking only two wickets for 129. There was, however, no denying his deadliness on sticky wicket
s: in one spell during 1894 he took in three games thirty-eight wickets for 241 runs, including thirteen for 98 against Surrey
at Catford. Walter Hearne’s cricket basically began and ended with his bowling: prior to making a score of 34 not out in his last-ever match his highest score had been only 22, and he was not a strong field as his more famous brother was.
Although most of his first-class cricket was played between 1892 and 1894, Walter Hearne actually played for Kent as early as 1887, but in one of the driest-ever English summers he met with very little success and the emergence of Frederick Martin as Kent’s main bowling force on sticky wickets meant he did not get another chance until 1890 - when again he failed to establish himself. With Martin declining abruptly in 1892 and Walter Wright
affected by an unfortunate injury, however, Walter Hearne seized his first chance of playing regularly in first-class cricket and became Kent’s leading wicket-taker with eighty-eight wickets. Against Somerset
he took twelve wickets for 114 runs, whilst he took ten against both Nottinghamshire and Sussex.
1893 opened with a much greater feat than Walter Hearne ever accomplished previously when he took no fewer than fifteen wickets for 114 runs against a powerful Lancashire
batting side at Old Trafford
, but his cricket was restricted to half-a-dozen games by knee problems. However, 1894 saw Walter Hearne apparently fully fit and he was in cracking form from the start when he took seven for 50 against Warwickshire
, and he kept up this form until the last few games when his effectiveness declined. In addition to his brilliant July spell noted above, Walter Hearne also did the hat-trick on a wearing wicket against Lancashire at Tonbridge in Kent’s fourth successive win over that county.
For the time it seemed as if Walter Hearne would remain one of the best bowlers in county cricket for many years. However, just before the 1895 season
Hearne broke down and could not play at all as surgeons
attempted to deal with his knee problems. At the beginning of 1896
he seemed fit and resumed his place in the Kent eleven against Gloucestershire and Lancashire. Though he met with little success on the firm pitches, it was hoped Walter Hearne would be of great value to Kent when pitches deteriorated. However, after the surprise of beating his previous best score as a batsman by over fifty percent and helping Frank Marchant
to add 105 for the eighth wicket, he yet again injured his knee. Treatment was attempted during 1896 but by the beginning of 1897
it was clear that there was no way by which the problem could be solved to allow Walter to continue in cricket as a player. However, Walter Hearne remained with Kent as scorer for the rest of his life, thus serving the county for thirty-eight years.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
for Kent CCC. He was the elder brother of the great Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
bowler J.T.Hearne and was a bowler of somewhat similar style, being a medium paced right-hander with great accuracy and a pronounced off-break. However, unlike his younger sibling, Walter Hearne was not physically robust and suffered throughout his short career from knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
problems, which ultimately led to his giving up the game at for the time a very young age. Also, even in his best season, Walter Hearne did not demonstrate that he possessed John Thomas’ sting on a firm pitch: indeed on the best wicket he had to bowl during 1894
1894 English cricket season
The 1894 English cricket season saw a close battle play out for the County Championship title between Surrey and last year's champions Yorkshire. Before the round of 23 August, the two teams were tied on 10 points, with one match left to play and all other teams hopelessly distanced...
at the Oval, he was severely punished taking only two wickets for 129. There was, however, no denying his deadliness on sticky wicket
Sticky wicket
Sticky wicket is a metaphor used to describe a difficult circumstance; it originates from difficult circumstances in the sport of cricket.-Origins:...
s: in one spell during 1894 he took in three games thirty-eight wickets for 241 runs, including thirteen for 98 against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
at Catford. Walter Hearne’s cricket basically began and ended with his bowling: prior to making a score of 34 not out in his last-ever match his highest score had been only 22, and he was not a strong field as his more famous brother was.
Although most of his first-class cricket was played between 1892 and 1894, Walter Hearne actually played for Kent as early as 1887, but in one of the driest-ever English summers he met with very little success and the emergence of Frederick Martin as Kent’s main bowling force on sticky wickets meant he did not get another chance until 1890 - when again he failed to establish himself. With Martin declining abruptly in 1892 and Walter Wright
Walter Wright
Walter Wright was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a left-arm medium-fast bowler...
affected by an unfortunate injury, however, Walter Hearne seized his first chance of playing regularly in first-class cricket and became Kent’s leading wicket-taker with eighty-eight wickets. Against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
he took twelve wickets for 114 runs, whilst he took ten against both Nottinghamshire and Sussex.
1893 opened with a much greater feat than Walter Hearne ever accomplished previously when he took no fewer than fifteen wickets for 114 runs against a powerful Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
batting side at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, but his cricket was restricted to half-a-dozen games by knee problems. However, 1894 saw Walter Hearne apparently fully fit and he was in cracking form from the start when he took seven for 50 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, and he kept up this form until the last few games when his effectiveness declined. In addition to his brilliant July spell noted above, Walter Hearne also did the hat-trick on a wearing wicket against Lancashire at Tonbridge in Kent’s fourth successive win over that county.
For the time it seemed as if Walter Hearne would remain one of the best bowlers in county cricket for many years. However, just before the 1895 season
1895 English cricket season
The 1895 English cricket season saw Surrey win the County Championship title for the fifth time in six years, despite increased competition, as the tournament was expanded from nine to fourteen teams...
Hearne broke down and could not play at all as surgeons
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
attempted to deal with his knee problems. At the beginning of 1896
1896 English cricket season
The 1896 English cricket season saw Yorkshire win the County Championship title after only losing three of 26 games, setting a points percentage record with 68.42...
he seemed fit and resumed his place in the Kent eleven against Gloucestershire and Lancashire. Though he met with little success on the firm pitches, it was hoped Walter Hearne would be of great value to Kent when pitches deteriorated. However, after the surprise of beating his previous best score as a batsman by over fifty percent and helping Frank Marchant
Frank Marchant
Frank Marchant was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper. He was born in Kent.-Life:...
to add 105 for the eighth wicket, he yet again injured his knee. Treatment was attempted during 1896 but by the beginning of 1897
1897 English cricket season
The 1897 English cricket season saw Lancashire win the County Championship title for the first time in the official running of the Championship, thanks mainly to only three losses in twenty-six matches. Surrey won more games, and beat Lancashire twice, but one more loss than Lancashire meant that...
it was clear that there was no way by which the problem could be solved to allow Walter to continue in cricket as a player. However, Walter Hearne remained with Kent as scorer for the rest of his life, thus serving the county for thirty-eight years.