Norman Hardy (11 March 1892 – 17 November 1923) played first-class cricket for Somerset between 1912 and 1921.[1] He was born at Norton Malreward, Somerset and died at Fishponds, Bristol.

Norman Hardy
Personal information
Full name
Norman Hardy
Born(1892-03-11)11 March 1892
Norton Malreward, Somerset, England
Died17 November 1923(1923-11-17) (aged 31)
Fishponds, Bristol, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1912–21Somerset
First-class debut11 July 1912 Somerset v Northamptonshire
Last First-class15 July 1921 Somerset v Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 11
Runs scored 169
Batting average 14.08
100s/50s –/–
Top score 38
Balls bowled 1750
Wickets 34
Bowling average 21.97
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 4/22
Catches/stumpings 6/–
Source: CricketArchive, 30 January 2011

Hardy was a right-handed, lower order batsman and a right-arm, fast-medium bowler. He first played for Somerset in two matches within a week in 1912, but achieved little in them. In 1919, he returned to the team as a professional for four matches, during which he both made his highest first-class score and had his best bowling return. In the match against Gloucestershire at County Ground, Taunton, in which Sydney Rippon played for Somerset under a false name, Hardy made 38, batting at No 10 and adding 58 for the ninth wicket with his captain, Jack White.[2] Against Surrey, he took four first-innings wickets for 22 runs.[3] In his four matches in 1919, Hardy took 18 first-class wickets at an average of 13 runs per wicket to be top of the Somerset averages for the season.[4]

Hardy played in just two matches as an amateur in 1920 and three in 1921 without making much impact. He died suddenly from heart failure while playing football, aged 31.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Norman Hardy". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Scorecard: Somerset v Gloucestershire". www.cricketarchive.com. 9 June 1919. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Scorecard: Somerset v Surrey". www.cricketarchive.com. 27 August 1919. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Somerset Matches". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1920 ed.). Wisden. p. 110.
  5. ^ "Deaths in 1923". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1924 ed.). Wisden. p. 259.