John Arnold

A Hampshire stalwart for over 18 years, John Arnold played a single Test for England early in his career. In 1931 he was selected to open the batting against New Zealand in just his second full season in the absence of Hobbs and Sutcliffe, but a modest performance led to a return to the county ranks. Arnold usually opened, but often dropped down the order for Hampshire, and was by nature an aggressive bat, particularly strong on the leg side, but also a good driver. He represented his country in soccer, and used his speed to good effect in the field. The vagaries of form led him to adopt a more defensive approach in the middle part of his career, but after a break for the Second World War he reverted to his former style with considerable success. Originally from Oxford he moved to Hampshire, and after qualification rarely was out of the county side. He made over 21,000 runs and 37 centuries for the county until retirement was forced upon him by illness. He later became a first-class umpire (DL, 2000).