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.

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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.