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The Master. Jack Hobbs spent the last 17 years of his life in Hove. Getty Images / Sussex CCC

The Lord and Master

When England's greatest ever batsman spent his final years enjoying one of Sussex's finest.

29.03.26, 06:30 Updated 12.05.26, 20:33 3 Minute Read

Paul Weaver

Paul Weaver

There was a time at Hove when the master came to pay homage to the lord.

The Master, for that was the title given by his awe-struck contemporaries, was Sir Jack Hobbs, popularly considered to be the finest batsman in the history of English cricket.

The Lord was Ted Dexter, nicknamed Lord Edward, the most dynamic batsman in England. And the time was 1963, the year of Profumo which also saw the beginning of sexual intercourse according to Philip Larkin in his poem, Annus Mirabilis, ìBetween the end of the Chatterley ban and the Beatles' first LP.

Hobbs retired 92 years ago in 1934, but has still scored more runs (61,237) and more centuries (197) than anyone else in the history of first-class cricket.

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