John Henry Hutchings (22 December 1882 – 6 May 1966) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1903 to 1925.[1]

Jack Hutchings
Personal information
Full name
John Henry Hutchings
Born(1882-12-22)22 December 1882
Wellington, New Zealand
Died6 May 1966(1966-05-06) (aged 83)
Wellington
BattingRight-handed
BowlingSlow
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1903/04–1924/25Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 18
Runs scored 472
Batting average 18.15
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 74*
Balls bowled 1,126
Wickets 19
Bowling average 41.68
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/102
Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 10 February 2019

Jack Hutchings played an important role in Wellington's first victory in the Plunket Shield, which gained them the title in 1918–19. Needing 225 to defeat Canterbury, Wellington were 188 for 8 when Hutchings went in to join Stan Brice. Together they added the required runs, giving Wellington a narrow victory.[2][3] He made his highest score of 74 not out later that season in similar circumstances, except this time Wellington lost. They needed 257 to beat Auckland and were 55 for 6 when he went to the wicket. With help from the tail-enders he took the score to 197 all out.[4] He finished the 1918–19 season in second place in the national batting averages with 172 runs at an average of 57.33.[5]

Apart from a few years in Auckland, when he played no first-class cricket, Hutchings spent most of his life in Wellington.[6] His wife Grace died at their home in Wellington in October 1923. They had one son, also known as Jack, who married Dorothy Mason, daughter of the politician Rex Mason.[7][8] Hutchings died in Wellington in May 1966, aged 83.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Hutchings". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Canterbury v Wellington 1918-19". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Cricket interests: Wellington's position". Evening Post. 26 March 1930. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Wellington v Auckland 1918-19". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. ^ "First-class batting and fielding for New Zealand 1918-19". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Sports in sport: Past and present: Jack Hutchings". NZ Truth. 26 January 1924. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Deaths". Evening Post: 1. 11 October 1923.
  8. ^ "Engagements". Evening Post: 10. 30 January 1943.
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