Remembering a servant of cricket and a friend

In the Age, Greg Baum recalls his memories of Paul Hibbert, the opening batsman who played one Test for Australia in 1977-78.

Hibbert came from an earlier and different time and place. He began with Victoria in 1974-75, as an opener. In the first season of the World Series hiatus in 1977-78, against the touring Indians, he made a century — his first — without a boundary, a feat of fastidiousness managed by only one other in cricket history.

The early '80s were lean years, both for Australia and Victoria, but Hibbert was one who dutifully kept the flame alight. He was a cricketer of his time: orthodox, patient, fatalistic, with a distinctive moustache. A left-hander, he was a clean striker who perhaps should have hit out more often, but that is wisdom in hindsight.