View source for David Hookes

{{short description|Australian cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = David Hookes
|            fullname = David William Hookes
|          birth_date = {{Birth date|1955|05|03|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = [[Mile End, South Australia|Mile End]], [[Adelaide]], Australia
|          death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|1|19|1955|5|3|df=yes}}
|         death_place = [[Prahran, Victoria|Prahran]], [[Melbourne]], Australia
|            nickname = Hookesy 
|             batting = Left-handed
|             bowling = 
|                role = [[Batting (cricket)|Batsman]]
|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 1977-1986
|             country = Australia
|       testdebutdate = 12 March
|       testdebutyear = 1977
|    testdebutagainst = England
|             testcap = 276
|        lasttestdate = 26 December
|        lasttestyear = 1985
|     lasttestagainst = India
|        odidebutdate = 2 June
|        odidebutyear = 1977
|     odidebutagainst = England
|              odicap = 32
|         lastodidate = 12 January
|         lastodiyear = 1986
|      lastodiagainst = India
|               club1 = [[Southern Redbacks|South Australia]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1975/76–1991/92}}
|             columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 23
|               runs1 = 1,306
|            bat avg1 = 34.36
|           100s/50s1 = 1/8
|          top score1 = 143[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries1 = 96
|            wickets1 = 1
|           bowl avg1 = 41.00
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 1/4
|  catches/stumpings1 = 12/–
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 39
|               runs2 = 826
|            bat avg2 = 24.29
|           100s/50s2 = 0/5
|          top score2 = 76
|         deliveries2 = 29
|            wickets2 = 1
|           bowl avg2 = 28.00
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 1/2
|  catches/stumpings2 = 11/–
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 178
|               runs3 = 12,671
|            bat avg3 = 43.99
|           100s/50s3 = 32/65
|          top score3 = 306[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries3 = 4,290
|            wickets3 = 41
|           bowl avg3 = 58.02
|            fivefor3 = 0
|             tenfor3 = 0
|       best bowling3 = 3/58
|  catches/stumpings3 = 167/–
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 82
|               runs4 = 2,041
|            bat avg4 = 27.58
|           100s/50s4 = 1/11
|          top score4 = 101
|         deliveries4 = 591
|            wickets4 = 15
|           bowl avg4 = 33.46
|            fivefor4 = 1
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 5/41
|  catches/stumpings4 = 37/–
|                date = 19 January
|                year = 2004
|              source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5696.html Cricinfo
}}

'''David William Hookes''' (3 May 1955 – 19 January 2004) was an Australian [[cricket]] player and coach. He played for the [[Australia national cricket team]] and domestic cricket for [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]], later coaching [[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]]. An aggressive left-handed batsman, Hookes usually batted in the middle order. His international career got off to a sensational start in the [[Centenary Test]] at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]] in 1977 when he hit England captain [[Tony Greig]] for five consecutive boundaries, but a combination of circumstances ensured that he never became a regular in the [[Australia national cricket team|Australian]] team. He wrote in his autobiography, "I suspect history will judge me harshly as a batsman because of my modest record in 23 Tests and I can't complain about that".<ref name=cricinfo>[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5696.html Cricinfo.com: David Hookes player profile.]</ref>

For many years, he was a leading figure in Australian domestic cricket, most notably in his role as captain of [[South Australian Redbacks|South Australia]] (SA). [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|''Wisden'']] called him "a first-class destroyer of second-rate bowling".<ref name=cricinfo/> Angered by Victorian captain [[Graham Yallop]]'s late declaration in a Sheffield Shield match at the [[Adelaide Oval]] in October 1982, Hookes, who normally batted at number 3 or 4, promoted himself to opening batsman and proceeded to score a century from 34 balls in just 43 minutes (including 18 fours and two sixes), at the time the fastest century scored in first-class cricket.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmsZgovASFE David Hookes – Fastest first class century]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149840.html |title=Hookes hurtles to a hundred |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=25 October 2005 |access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref> He finished his career as the highest run-scorer in [[Sheffield Shield]] history.

An outspoken man who had several brushes with the game's officials, Hookes retired at the end of the 1991–92 season and pursued his media career. He moved to Melbourne in 1995 and broadcast on Radio 3AW. His popularity among players and his reputation for strong leadership led to his appointment as coach of the Victorian team in 2002. The team enjoyed success under his tutelage. He died after being punched by a hotel bouncer outside a pub where he had been drinking with Victorian players following their victory in a match earlier in the day.

==Cricket career==
Hookes grew up in [[Torrensville, South Australia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shiell |first=Alan |title=Hookesy |publisher=ABC Books |year=1993 |location=Sydney |pages=9}}</ref> He played for the [[West Torrens Cricket Club]] and made his [[South Australian Grade Cricket League|A-Grade]] debut at the age of just 15. When he came in to bat he faced [[Adelaide Cricket Club]] bowler and local [[Australian rules football]] and media personality [[K. G. Cunningham|Ken "KG" Cunningham]]. KG said later in a [[Nine Network|Channel 9]] tribute to Hookes that after the first two balls went past the edge of the bat, he walked down the wicket and attempted to upset the youngster in his first game and "gave him a huge spray". Hookes then sent the next four balls to the fence and after the over walked up to Cunningham and said: "Listen old man, if you continue to bowl those wobbly little inswingers the next four will go over the fence and not into the fence." In later years KG became one of Hookes's close friends and on Adelaide television and radio one of his strongest supporters even after his move to Melbourne to become coach of the Victorian state side.

David Hookes made his first-class debut in 1975–76 for [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]]. A rush of form in February 1977, when he scored five centuries from six innings in 17 days, led to his selection for the Centenary Test in March, 1977, at the age of 21.

===Test debut and WSC===
During Australia's second innings of the match, Hookes made 56, and hit Tony Greig for five consecutive boundaries. Soon after, he signed a contract with [[World Series Cricket]] (WSC) and then toured England. Playing all five Tests, Hookes compiled 283 runs at 31.44, with scores of 85 at [[The Oval]] and 50 at [[Lord's]].

Australian Captain [[Ian Chappell]] described [[World Series Cricket]] (WSC) as the toughest cricket he ever played (with all the best players in the world involved)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnett |first=Adam |date=25 November 2015 |title=Cricket Australia Recognises World Series Cricket Statistics |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/cricket-australia-recognise-world-series-cricket-statistics-ian-chappell-barry-richards/2015-11-25 |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=Cricket.com.au}}</ref>

Hookes was one of the key personalities marketed by the breakaway WSC organisation. In a Supertest at the [[Sydney Showground (Moore Park)|Sydney Showground]] in 1977, a [[bouncer (cricket)|bouncer]] from [[Andy Roberts (cricketer)|Andy Roberts]] broke his jaw, and his confidence never fully recovered from the injury. Nevertheless, he was the third-best performed Australian batsman behind [[Ian Chappell|Ian]] and [[Greg Chappell]] with 770 runs (at 38.5 average) across the Supertests played during the 1977–78 / 78-79 and was in fact the best performed Australian batsmen across the 1978–79 Supertests with 392 runs (at 56 average).<ref>{{Cite book |title=Cricket Alight - World Series Cricket in Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies |publisher=Golden Press |year=1979 |location=Sydney - Auckland |pages=42}}</ref> His future in the Australian team following the rapprochement between WSC and official cricket seemed assured.

===Problems post-WSC===
However, Hookes managed just one Test and two ODIs when injury curtailed his 1979–80 season. Returned to fitness, he [[Australian cricket team in Pakistan 1979-80|toured Pakistan in 1980]], but made a pair in the first Test at Karachi, dismissed twice by spin bowler [[Iqbal Qasim]]. His play against slow bowling had not developed and he was vulnerable to the well-flighted delivery as his footwork was non-existent.<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/137663.html Cricinfo – How good was David Hookes?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Dropped from the Australian team, his form failed to improve in the following Australian season, and he lost his place in the South Australia team as well.

The [[South Australian Cricket Association|SACA]] took a gamble by appointing Hookes as South Australia captain at the start of the 1981–82 season. He responded to the challenge and led the state to the Sheffield Shield. Improved confidence and form led to his reinstatement in the Australian team for the 1982–83 Ashes series, and he batted consistently for 344 runs at 49.14 average with a best score of 68 in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Continuing his good form on the following [[Australian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1982-83|tour of Sri Lanka]], Hookes scored 143 off 152 balls in the first Test between the nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149754.html |title=Greenidge's final frenzy |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=12 April 2008 |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>

===Last seasons===
Hookes's performances were more subdued during the 1983 World Cup in England. Australia played poorly in the tournament. When the team returned home, Hookes criticised the team's captain, [[Kim Hughes]]. This earned him a fine and he was dropped from the 1983–84 Test series against Pakistan. He returned for five Tests in the West Indies during [[Australian cricket team in West Indies in 1983–84|the 1984 tour]] and passed 20 in seven of his ten innings, yet made only one half-century, 51 at Antigua in the fourth Test.

Frustrated by Hookes's failure to turn regular starts into big scores, the Australian selectors ignored him for the next 18 months. He was not selected for the 1985 tour of England, although there had been an exodus of Australian players on a rebel tour of South Africa. His last international appearances were in 1985–86, when he played two Tests against both New Zealand and India, and two ODIs in the World Series Cup. Thereafter, Australia pursued a selection policy of giving prolonged opportunities to younger players and passing over older players with inconsistent records.

===Domestic performances===
Despite his failure to live up to expectations at the highest level, Hookes continued to captain South Australia until 1990, when he was sensationally sacked. In October 1982, Hookes thrashed a 43-minute, 34-ball century, which in some respects is the fastest hundred in first-class history.<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/137661.html Cricinfo – The 34-ball carnage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On 7–8 March 1987, Hookes and [[Wayne B. Phillips|Wayne Phillips]] shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 462 for South Australia against [[Tasmanian Tigers|Tasmania]], with Hookes making his highest ever score of 306 not out coming in just 385 minutes from only 314 balls faced (Phillips scored 213 not out). Hookes' innings also included 40 fours and 2 sixes. Hookes and [[Wicket-keeper]] Phillips, both left-handed batsmen, broke the previous first-class partnership record of 456 set by Victorian pair [[Bill Ponsford]] and [[Edgar Mayne]] in the 1923–24 season against [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]] at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08-VohmuJ4 1986/87 Hookes & Phillips]</ref>

Hookes also formed a devastating partnership with fellow South Australian left-hander [[Darren Lehmann]], the pair often entertaining spectators at the Adelaide Oval in Shield matches with their attacking play. In all first-class cricket, Hookes scored 12,671 runs in 178 matches at an average of 43.99.

===Batting style===
Hookes was an aggressive strokeplayer against fast bowling, and was known to play the [[Batting (cricket)#Pull and hook|hook shot]] effectively.<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/143414.html Cricinfo – Playing hooky<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However he had problems playing spin. He was known as an "eye" player – or one who relied more on his eye than on sound batting technique.

==After retirement==
After his retirement, he became involved in the media, making appearances on television and hosting a radio programme on Melbourne radio station [[3AW]] with fellow sportscaster [[Gerard Healy]].

In 2002, he was selected as the new coach of the [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] cricket team, a team he had grown up hating. He led a revival of the team, which had struggled in previous years. The team subsequently rose back to the top of the Australian domestic competition.

During August 2003, Hookes was criticised by his employers, [[Cricket Victoria]], after his comment in reference to Helen Cohen Alon, a South African woman who had claimed Australian cricketer [[Shane Warne]] had sexually harassed her via telephone. Commenting on her as "some dopey, hairy-backed sheila who has dobbed [Warne] in across the other side of the world. If that's what she wants to do to earn some cash that's her decision. Let's find out the facts before we hang Warney on this one".<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/124873.html Cricinfo – Hookes puts his foot in it ... <!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/137677.html Cricinfo – 'A dopey, hairy-backed sheila'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

He accused the Australian selectors of [[New South Wales selection bias|bias towards players from New South Wales]] stating that "when they give out the baggy blue cap in New South Wales, they give you a baggy green one in a brown paper bag as well to save making two presentations."<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/156021.html David Hookes Wisden Obituary]</ref>

==Personal life==
Hookes married his childhood sweetheart and first wife Roxanne, but left her for his second wife, Robyn Gellman.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} They were married for 22 years. Hookes had two stepchildren. Hookes and Robyn separated in late 2003 due to Hookes's [[infidelities]].<ref name="abc.net.au">[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2005/s1364301.htm Australian Story – In the Midnight Hour]</ref> At the time of his death he had been in a two-year relationship with Christine Padfield, then marketing coordinator at [[Cricket Victoria]],<ref name="abc.net.au"/> who was present when he died.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/07/1075854114419.html?from=storyrhs Fairfax Digital – Hinch defiant: I've done nothing wrong]</ref>

==Death==
On the night of 18 January 2004, Hookes went to the Beaconsfield Hotel in  West [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]], [[Melbourne]]. The hotel's security staff continued following the party for a short distance outside the hotel. In the altercation that followed, one of the bouncers, Zdravko Micevic,<ref>https://www.foxsports.com.au/more-sports/boxing/i-cant-hide-out-forever/news-story/660bab8bb56d8a7d2514c4b029127620</ref> punched Hookes. He fell to the ground, hitting his head in the process, and went into [[cardiac arrest]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hookes-death-cricketer-tried-to-breakup-fight/2005/08/24/1124562902848.html SMH – Lehmann says bouncers 'chased' Hookes]</ref> He was revived by paramedics but did not regain consciousness. He was taken to [[Melbourne]]'s [[Alfred Hospital]] and placed on life support. The following evening, after family and friends had said their sad goodbyes, Hookes was taken off life support and died soon after. Hookes was an organ donor and 10 people received transplanted organs.<ref>[http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2006-ta-abb016.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2006&mth=2 Department of Health & Ageing – Flame of life ignites awareness of organ donation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

A memorial service was held on [[Adelaide Oval]] on 27 January 2004, attended by all members of the [[Australian cricket team|Australian]], [[Southern Redbacks|South Australia]] and [[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]] cricket teams, as well as the [[Premier of Victoria]], [[Steve Bracks]].<ref name="theage.com.au">[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/27/1075088022437.html Silence and applause: a cricketer's farewell for David Hookes – www.theage.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Attendance was estimated at 10,000. His estranged wife, Robyn, declined to participate in his memorial service, but sat in one of the outer grandstands.<ref name="theage.com.au"/>

{{Wikinews|Hearing begins over David Hookes death}}During the bouncer's trial, witnesses gave conflicting testimony of what occurred and who started the fight.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-11-15|title=Hookes 'threw two punches' at bouncer|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/hookes-threw-two-punches-at-bouncer-20041116-gdk49x.html|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> The jury acquitted him.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-09-12|title=Jury clears bouncer in Hookes case|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-09-12/jury-clears-bouncer-in-hookes-case/2101856|access-date=2021-02-14|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>

[[File:David Hookes Monument.jpg|thumb|David Hookes monument in his home suburb of [[Torrensville, South Australia|Torrensville]] near his beloved [[Thebarton Oval]] ]]

==See also==
* [[Phil Walsh (Australian footballer)|Phil Walsh]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cricinfo|id=5696}}
* [http://www.davidhookesfoundation.com/ David Hookes Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217020827/http://davidhookesfoundation.com/ |date=17 December 2014 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hookes, David}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian cricketers]]
[[Category:Australia Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Australian cricket captains]]
[[Category:Australia One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1983 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Australian cricket coaches]]
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[[Category:World Series Cricket players]]
[[Category:South Australia cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Adelaide]]
[[Category:Deaths from head injury]]
[[Category:People murdered in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]