David Hookes - a moment in time at Adelaide Oval
Paul Ryan | May 21, 2024
South Australia played Victoria in a Sheffield Shield game starting 22 October 1982 in a game that will long live in the memory of all the players and those in attendance. Day 4 was a particular highlight.
The game began with Victoria batting first and finding themselves in trouble at 5.95 before Shaun Graf batting 7 scored 48, wicket keeper Peter Sacristani batting number 8 top scored with 55 and Peter King at 9 scoring 54 as Victoria were bowled out for 260 off 97.1 overs.
For South Australia West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner took the bowling honours with 4 for 73.
In reply, South Australia scored 409 off 118.3 with John Inverarity scoring 126 and captain David Hookes 137 as they shared a 4th wicket partnership of 212.
Peter King was the pick of the Victorian bowlers with 5 for 88 off 28 overs.
Batting in the 2nd innings Victoria compiled 420 runs before declaring 9 wickets down off a mammoth 141 overs.
Captain Graham Yallop top scored with 151 and was well supported by opener Julien Weiner 73 and 23-year-old Braddon Green 70.
For South Australian spinner John Inverarity bowled a marathon 41 overs taking 3 for 116.
Yallop’s declaration left South Australia with the shopping task of 271 runs to win off 24 overs. South Australian captain David Hookes, well known for his attacking flair was not impressed.
So much so, he elevated himself to opening the batting with Rick Darling.
What happened next became a moment in time as Hookes tore the Victoria bowler to shreds scoring 100 off just 34 balls to register the fastest century in the history of first class cricket. When Hookes brought up his century his opening partner Darling had scored just 7 runs.
At the end of play, South Australia were 7 for 206 and the match was drawn.
You have to wonder what price bracket David Hookes would have commanded in modern day T20 cricket
