Alec Hurwood

{{short description|Australian cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Alec Hurwood

| image = Alec Hurwood c1930.jpg

| caption =

| fullname = Alexander Hurwood

| birth_date = 17 June 1902

| birth_place = Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

| death_date = 26 September 1982 (aged 80)

| death_place = Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium-paced off-spin

| club1 = Queensland

| year1 = 1925–26 to 1931–32

| columns = 2

| column1 = Tests

| matches1 = 2

| runs1 = 5

| bat avg1 = 2.50

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 5

| deliveries1 = 517

| wickets1 = 11

| bowl avg1 = 15.45

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 4/22

| catches/stumpings1= 2/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 43

| runs2 = 575

| bat avg2 = 11.27

| 100s/50s2 = 0/3

| top score2 = 89

| deliveries2 = 7864

| wickets2 = 113

| bowl avg2 = 27.62

| fivefor2 = 5

| tenfor2 = 1

| best bowling2 = 6/80

| catches/stumpings2= 29/–

| international = true

| country = Australia

| testdebutfor =

| testdebutagainst = West Indies

| testdebutdate = 12 December

| testdebutyear = 1930

| testcap = 135

| lasttestdate = 1 January

| lasttestfor =

| lasttestagainst = West Indies

| lasttestyear = 1931

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/alec-hurwood-5733 Cricinfo

| date = 29 April

| year = 2021

}}

Alexander Hurwood (17 June 1902 – 26 September 1982), was an Australian cricketer who played in two Tests in the 1930-31 season.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/5733.html Alec Hurwood]. espncricinfo.com

Hurwood was born in Brisbane and educated at Brisbane Grammar School.The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket, Oxford, Melbourne, 1996, p. 259. Renowned for his odd bowling style – taking only a couple of steps before delivering the ball – Hurwood was a medium-paced off-spinner. He played several seasons for Queensland before being called up to the Australian Test team. He had his most successful season in 1929-30, taking 46 wickets at an average of 19.84.{{cite web |title=First-Class Bowling in Each Season by Alec Hurwood |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/563/f_Bowling_by_Season.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=29 April 2021}} He took 6 for 179 when Don Bradman made 452 not out in January 1930.{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Steven |title=The man who (almost) bowled Bradman |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/steven-lynch-on-australian-bowler-alec-hurwood-860609 |website=Cricinfo |access-date=29 April 2021}} In his next match, two weeks later, Hurwood took his best figures of 6 for 80 against South Australia.{{cite web |title=Brisbane, Jan 17 - 21 1930, Sheffield Shield |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sheffield-shield-1929-30-317447/queensland-vs-south-australia-317476/full-scorecard |website=Cricinfo |access-date=29 April 2021}}

Hurwood toured England with the Australian team in 1930 but did not get many opportunities and took only 28 wickets in 20 first-class matches, and did not play in any of the five Tests. He played in the first two Tests against West Indies in 1930-31, taking 11 wickets, and was considered unlucky to be dropped in favour of bowlers returning to the team from injury.Wisden 1984, p. 1202. He moved to Melbourne in 1932 and played no more first-class cricket.

Hurwood served in World War II, first as an anti-aircraft gunner in the army from 1940 to 1942,{{cite web |title=World War II Service (VX32116) |url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=443160&c=WW2 |publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs |accessdate=16 July 2020}} then as a flight lieutenant with the RAAF from 1942 to 1945.{{cite web |title=World War II Service (256628) |url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1051942&c=WW2|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs |accessdate=16 July 2020}}

Hurwood and his wife Norma married in 1945 and had three children. When he retired in 1973 they returned to Queensland.