One of the best all-round amateur sportsmen of his day, Alfred Ernest Hind represented Cambridge University at rugby, cricket and athletics – he ran the 100 yards in 9.8 seconds. His most outstanding feats were on the rugby field, where he represented England twice in 1905 (v New Zealand) and 1906 (v Wales); In 1903 he toured South Africa with the British Isles and he played his club rugby at Nottingham, mostly as a winger, he also played club rugby for Leicester.
Born in Preston, Lancashire on 7 April 1878, Hind was educated at Uppingham, being in the XI from 1895 to 1897. He headed the school’s bowling averages in each of those three seasons and headed the batting averages in 1897. He was a good steady right-arm medium bowler, varied the pitch well and spun the ball either way. In addition he was a right-hand batsman and fielded at slip. From Uppingham he went to Trinity College, Cambridge and was awarded his Cricket Blue four times from 1898 to 1901. His First-Class debut was for Cambridge University v CI Thornton’s England XI at Fenner’s in May 1898, having a match analysis of 9-59 (including a career best 7-30 in the first innings). During the 1898 season, Hind took 35 First-Class wickets @17.91, including first innings figures of 5-30 for Cambridge University v Sussex at Hove. As a batsman he hit three half-centuries with his best 54 not out for Cambridge University v MCC at Lord’s in 1901. In 1897 he had appeared for Lancashire Second XI and in 1900 made his debut for Notts in the non First-Class friendly versus the West Indians, scoring 60 and taking 1-15. His only First-Class match for Notts was against Leicestershire in July 1901, when he scored 3 and 2 and did not bowl. In total, he played 37 First-Class matches between 1898 and 1901, scoring 681 runs @14.18 and taking 80 wickets @26.85. His biggest scalp was WG Grace, whom Hind dismissed when the England Test cricketer was playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s in 1900.
He played for Notts under a residential qualification, being for some years a solicitor in Fletcher Gate, Nottingham, before moving to Leicester. He played local cricket with Nottingham Amateurs CC.
Hind died in Oadby, Leicester on 21 March 1947 aged 68 years,
May 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 270